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European parliament condemns killing of Giulio Regeni in Egypt European parliament condemns killing of Giulio Regeni in Egypt
(35 minutes later)
A European parliament resolution has condemned the suspected torture and murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni by Egyptian security forces, saying the killing ought to serve as a “wake-up call” for the EU.A European parliament resolution has condemned the suspected torture and murder of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni by Egyptian security forces, saying the killing ought to serve as a “wake-up call” for the EU.
The resolution, which was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 588-10, with 59 abstentions, on Thursday, not only called for Egypt’s total cooperation in the investigation into the 28-year-old PhD student’s murder, it also sharply criticised EU members who it claimed had turned a blind eye to reports about Egypt’s systematic human rights abuses. Far from being an “isolated incident”, it painted a picture of a state where disappearances, torture, and disregard for civil rights and press freedom have become the norm. The resolution, which was overwhelmingly passed by a vote of 588-10, with 59 abstentions, on Thursday, called for Egypt’s total cooperation in the investigation into the 28-year-old PhD student’s murder, and also sharply criticised EU members which it claimed had turned a blind eye to reports about Egypt’s systematic human rights abuses. Far from being an “isolated incident”, it painted a picture of a state where disappearances, torture and disregard for civil rights and press freedom have become the norm.
The resolution called for the suspension of “any form” of security cooperation with Egyptian authorities and condemned arms deals between Egypt and France, Germany and the UK. It said EU member states needed to cease their “short-sighted and delusive approach to Egypt’s security forces as a guarantor of stability and a partner to fight violent extremism and terrorism in the region”. The resolution called for the suspension of any form of security cooperation with Egyptian authorities and condemned arms deals between Egypt and France, Germany and the UK. It said EU member states needed to cease their “short-sighted and delusive approach to Egypt’s security forces as a guarantor of stability and a partner to fight violent extremism and terrorism in the region”.
Related: Why was he killed? Brutal death of Italian student in Egypt confounds expertsRelated: Why was he killed? Brutal death of Italian student in Egypt confounds experts
It is far from clear whether the resolution will have any practical impact on Egypt’s activities or the investigation into Regeni’s murder. But it was a clear sign of growing European pressure on Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. It showed, too, that Regeni’s murder has reverberated far beyond Italy.It is far from clear whether the resolution will have any practical impact on Egypt’s activities or the investigation into Regeni’s murder. But it was a clear sign of growing European pressure on Egypt’s president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. It showed, too, that Regeni’s murder has reverberated far beyond Italy.
A source at the Egyptian foreign ministry said the move had been anticipated and that it could have been more severe. A source at the Egyptian foreign ministry said the move had been anticipated and that it could have been more severe. “I can’t say we’re shocked, as we knew it was coming,” the source said.
“I can’t say we’re shocked, as we knew it was coming,” the source said.
While the “consistently critical” views of the EU parliament towards Cairo over recent years had not affected policy much so far, HA Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute in London said it could still make Cairo “angry and frustrated”.While the “consistently critical” views of the EU parliament towards Cairo over recent years had not affected policy much so far, HA Hellyer of the Royal United Services Institute in London said it could still make Cairo “angry and frustrated”.
“In the member states it’s likely to make even less difference. However, it certainly creates a certain amount of moral pressure, but nothing that’s going to change the policy in the short term at all,” Hellyer said.“In the member states it’s likely to make even less difference. However, it certainly creates a certain amount of moral pressure, but nothing that’s going to change the policy in the short term at all,” Hellyer said.
He added, however, that the political pressure that could be created by the motion ought not to be underestimated. He added, however, that the political pressure that could be created by the motion ought not to be underestimated. “This allows people who are lobbying generally on Egypt to point to this motion.”
“This allows people who are lobbying generally on Egypt to point to this motion,” he said. Regeni, a Cambridge academic and researcher who was studying Egyptian trade unions, was last seen alive on the night of 25 January. His body, which showed evidence of torture, was found in a ditch along a desert highway more than a week later. Experts have said the case bears all the hallmarks of Egypt’s notorious secret service, and the murder happened amid a broader crackdown on pro-democracy activists before the fifth anniversary of the Egyptian uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
Regeni, a Cambridge academic and researcher who was studying Egyptian trade unions, was last seen alive on the night of 25 January. His body, which showed evidence of torture, was found in a ditch along a desert highway more than a week later. Experts have said the case bears all the hallmarks of Egypt’s notorious secret service, and the murder happened amid a broader crackdown on pro-democracy activists ahead of the five-year anniversary of the Egyptian uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak.
The Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has repeatedly called on Egypt to cooperate with Italian investigators and has said Italy will not accept “easy truths” on the Regeni case.The Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, has repeatedly called on Egypt to cooperate with Italian investigators and has said Italy will not accept “easy truths” on the Regeni case.
Tensions between Cairo and Rome appear to be growing amid Egypt’s continuing insistence that Regeni was not tortured for days – as Italian officials have suggested – and that he was killed after a single violent incident. Tensions between Cairo and Rome appear to be growing as Egyptcontinues to insist that Regeni was not tortured for days – as Italian officials have suggested – and that he was killed after a single violent incident.
In an interview this week with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the lead Egyptian prosecutor, Hassam Nassar, disputed the significance of a finding that Regeni’s nails had been pulled out, saying the evidence was “misunderstood”.In an interview this week with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, the lead Egyptian prosecutor, Hassam Nassar, disputed the significance of a finding that Regeni’s nails had been pulled out, saying the evidence was “misunderstood”.
The resolution passed by the European parliament also raised other concerns about alleged human rights violations by Egypt, including the “ongoing domestic repression” of prisoners of conscience, political prisoners, and journalists, which it said was unparalleled since the 1970s. The resolution passed by the European parliament also raised other concerns about alleged human rights violations by Egypt, including the “ongoing domestic repression” of prisoners of conscience, political prisoners and journalists, which it said was unparalleled since the 1970s.
It singled out 19-year-old Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish national, who it said was facing a potential death sentence because of his participation in a 2013 protest in Cairo.It singled out 19-year-old Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish national, who it said was facing a potential death sentence because of his participation in a 2013 protest in Cairo.
It pointed out that the EU was Egypt’s “first economic partner and its main source of foreign investment” and said that the EU’s cooperation with Egypt ought to be readjusted according to developments on the ground.It pointed out that the EU was Egypt’s “first economic partner and its main source of foreign investment” and said that the EU’s cooperation with Egypt ought to be readjusted according to developments on the ground.