Patrick Zaki was released. He left the Mansura police station a few minutes ago. His mother was waiting for him, who welcomed him with a strong hug.

After yesterday's decision by the judge of Mansura who established his release, the proceedings have continued until today.

"We have been waiting to see that embrace for 22 months and that embrace comes from Italy, from all the people, all the groups and local authorities, the university, the parliamentarians who made sure that that embrace came", he comments Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International Italia. "A hug - he adds - especially to the media that have kept the attention high for these 22 months. Now that we have seen that embrace, we are waiting for this freedom to be not temporary but permanent. And with this hope we will arrive at February 1, next hearing ".

The student of the University of Bologna was arrested in February 2020 at the Cairo airport by the Egyptian authorities on charges of threatening national security, inciting illegal protests, subversion, spreading false news, propaganda for terrorism.

Some of his posts published on Facebook ended up in the crosshairs: according to local media, Zaki would be among the authors of the incitements against the Egyptian state.

His story has caused a stir not only in Italy but in many states with many people, even well-known, who have launched appeals for his release.

His lawyer had stated that Patrick also suffered torture with electric shocks.

Now he will not be able to leave the country but will have to remain in Egypt until the hearing scheduled for February 1, 2022. Despite his release, in fact, he has not been acquitted of the charges.

(Unioneonline / ss)

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