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Giulio Regeni murder: Cambridge tutor agrees to speak to Italian investigators Giulio Regeni murder: Cambridge tutor agrees to speak to Italian investigators
(about 1 month later)
Maha Abdelrahman to be questioned amid accusations the university failed to keep Regeni safe in Egypt
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome
Thu 7 Dec 2017 23.35 GMT
Last modified on Fri 8 Dec 2017 10.24 GMT
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The Cambridge University professor who served as an academic adviser to Giulio Regeni, the doctoral student who was tortured and killed in Egypt last year, has agreed to be interviewed by Italian investigators.The Cambridge University professor who served as an academic adviser to Giulio Regeni, the doctoral student who was tortured and killed in Egypt last year, has agreed to be interviewed by Italian investigators.
Angelino Alfano, the Italian foreign minister, said the development was a “significant step forward” in the case. Cambridge said dates had been mutually agreed between the adviser, Maha Abdelrahman, and Italian investigators.Angelino Alfano, the Italian foreign minister, said the development was a “significant step forward” in the case. Cambridge said dates had been mutually agreed between the adviser, Maha Abdelrahman, and Italian investigators.
The move could help soothe an intense ratcheting up of tensions between Cambridge and Italian authorities over the last few months about what has been perceived in Italy as a lack of cooperation by the British university in the murder case.The move could help soothe an intense ratcheting up of tensions between Cambridge and Italian authorities over the last few months about what has been perceived in Italy as a lack of cooperation by the British university in the murder case.
The killing still strikes an emotional chord across Italy both because of the brutality of Regeni’s murder – and because no one has been held accountable for his death.The killing still strikes an emotional chord across Italy both because of the brutality of Regeni’s murder – and because no one has been held accountable for his death.
While Egypt has been seen as the ultimate culprit behind the murder, there is a persistent debate in Italy about whether Regeni was pursuing research that was too dangerous for the 28-year-old student, and whether Cambridge should have shown more responsibility in ensuring his wellbeing.While Egypt has been seen as the ultimate culprit behind the murder, there is a persistent debate in Italy about whether Regeni was pursuing research that was too dangerous for the 28-year-old student, and whether Cambridge should have shown more responsibility in ensuring his wellbeing.
Regeni’s bruised and battered body was found along the side of a highway near Cairo on 3 February last year, more than a week after he disappeared. The Italian had been researching Egyptian labour unions, a sensitive topic in Egypt.Regeni’s bruised and battered body was found along the side of a highway near Cairo on 3 February last year, more than a week after he disappeared. The Italian had been researching Egyptian labour unions, a sensitive topic in Egypt.
The government of Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has denied involvement in the killing even though it is known that Regeni was being closely monitored by police.The government of Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi has denied involvement in the killing even though it is known that Regeni was being closely monitored by police.
At the same time, frustration has grown about what is perceived in Italy to be an inadequate and even resistant stance by Cambridge, amid a steady stream of media stories that have alleged that the university has not agreed to answer all of investigators’ questions in the matter.At the same time, frustration has grown about what is perceived in Italy to be an inadequate and even resistant stance by Cambridge, amid a steady stream of media stories that have alleged that the university has not agreed to answer all of investigators’ questions in the matter.
Cambridge has insisted that it has been willing to cooperate. But it has only been willing to do so through formal legal channels and legal requests, not informal demands for information. According to Italian press reports, Italian investigators want to know if other Cambridge students were studying Egyptian labour unions under Abdelrahman’s supervision.Cambridge has insisted that it has been willing to cooperate. But it has only been willing to do so through formal legal channels and legal requests, not informal demands for information. According to Italian press reports, Italian investigators want to know if other Cambridge students were studying Egyptian labour unions under Abdelrahman’s supervision.
The decision to agree an interview comes after a British judge approved a European investigation warrant, according to foreign minister Alfano. He praised the decision and Cambridge’s cooperation as a significant development following a meeting with British foreign secretary Boris Johnson.The decision to agree an interview comes after a British judge approved a European investigation warrant, according to foreign minister Alfano. He praised the decision and Cambridge’s cooperation as a significant development following a meeting with British foreign secretary Boris Johnson.
Cambridge said on Thursday: “The University has recently been made aware of a formal request for testimony issued by Italian prosecutors. Both the university and Dr Abdelrahman are cooperating fully.”Cambridge said on Thursday: “The University has recently been made aware of a formal request for testimony issued by Italian prosecutors. Both the university and Dr Abdelrahman are cooperating fully.”
The university, which was the subject of a highly critical article in one of Italy’s main newspapers, La Repubblica, has also hit back at what it has deemed to be “malicious and unfounded” allegations against Abdelrahman.The university, which was the subject of a highly critical article in one of Italy’s main newspapers, La Repubblica, has also hit back at what it has deemed to be “malicious and unfounded” allegations against Abdelrahman.
It said that La Repubblica’s assertion that Abdelrahman commissioned Regeni to research a topic she knew was dangerous and that he was reluctant to pursue was “absurd”, and represented a lack of understanding of how academic supervision works.It said that La Repubblica’s assertion that Abdelrahman commissioned Regeni to research a topic she knew was dangerous and that he was reluctant to pursue was “absurd”, and represented a lack of understanding of how academic supervision works.
A letter in defence of the Cambridge professor, which was signed by 344 academics and published in the Guardian stated that Regeni had been interested in independent trade unions for years, and that there was not “any indication at the time that this research posed a threat to life”.A letter in defence of the Cambridge professor, which was signed by 344 academics and published in the Guardian stated that Regeni had been interested in independent trade unions for years, and that there was not “any indication at the time that this research posed a threat to life”.
University of Cambridge
Higher education
Italy
Europe
Egypt
Middle East and North Africa
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