«There is a separation of powers, the sentence is of first instance: there was a conviction, Egypt was not convicted, three people were convicted» .
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani commented on the Regeni case , following the conviction of three Egyptian intelligence officers and the request from the parents of the young researcher who was tortured and murdered to sever ties with Cairo: "It has been decided that they are guilty, we'll see what happens in the second and third degree trials, but there was a murder, so it was unacceptable," Tajani added, responding to questions about whether the Egyptian government had cooperated. "We have always asked for cooperation, they have been convicted, and justice will take its course."
Yesterday the verdict arrived with three ten-year sentences, for kidnapping only and not for murder, and the acquittal of a fourth defendant .
The verdict handed down by the judges of Rome's First Assize Court against four Egyptian 007 agents was welcomed by the researcher's parents, Paola and Claudio, and his sister Irene, with dignity and without betraying emotion. "It's clear that the reasons will need to be read, but today we know that our faith in justice has been well placed. From today, all citizens of the world can feel safer."
The judges have effectively established that Regeni was taken by Egyptian forces on January 25, ten years ago, in Cairo and taken to a facility, a small villa on the outskirts of the capital, available to the secret services . The judges' ruling stands here. Regarding how Giulio was killed and the torture he suffered, the Court essentially states that there is insufficient evidence to convict the defendants identified: Major Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, the man who physically killed Giulio and for whom a life sentence had been requested, and Colonels Uhsam Helmi and Athar Kamel Mohamed . All three received 10-year sentences for kidnapping. The fourth defendant, General Tariq Sabir, was acquitted of all charges.
