Italy is seeking to prevent a court ruling over the 2016 abduction and death of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni from triggering a fresh diplomatic dispute with Egypt. A Rome court sentenced three Egyptian security officials to 10 years in prison in absentia for aggravated kidnapping, while a fourth defendant was acquitted.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stressed that the ruling was directed at specific individuals rather than the Egyptian state. His comments came as opposition politicians accused the government of placing diplomatic, migration and economic interests ahead of the long-running demand for accountability in the Regeni case.
Rome Court Delivers Verdict After Decade-Long Case
Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University doctoral researcher, disappeared in Cairo on January 25, 2016, while studying independent trade unions in Egypt. His body was discovered days later showing extensive evidence of severe abuse and torture.
The Rome court convicted three Egyptian security officials of aggravated kidnapping and sentenced each to 10 years. A fourth defendant was acquitted. The court did not establish a murder conviction against the defendants, and the proceedings were conducted in their absence because the men remained in Egypt.
The case has remained a major source of tension between Rome and Cairo for years. Egyptian authorities have rejected allegations of state involvement and did not cooperate fully with the Italian proceedings.
Italian Government Seeks to Preserve Egypt Relations
Following the verdict, Tajani emphasized that Italy’s legal action should not be interpreted as a judgment against Egypt as a country. He also said the government would continue diplomatic efforts to establish the full circumstances surrounding Regeni’s death.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government has worked to strengthen relations with Cairo, with Egypt playing an important role for Italy in areas including migration, energy and regional stability. Tajani recently visited Cairo, where the two countries signed agreements aimed at expanding cooperation, including measures addressing irregular migration and human trafficking.
Opposition Criticizes Italy’s Approach
The government’s response has drawn criticism from opposition politicians and Regeni’s legal representatives. Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein said the verdict demonstrated responsibility within Egypt’s security establishment and criticized what she described as efforts to obstruct the case.
Green and Left Alliance representative Angelo Bonelli also accused the government of giving greater importance to economic and energy relationships with Egypt than to the pursuit of justice. Regeni family lawyer Alessandra Ballerini has called for a tougher response toward Cairo.
The legal process is not yet necessarily finished. Under Italian law, the verdict can be appealed, meaning further proceedings could continue for years. Any potential extradition process would also depend on the conclusion of the judicial process and Egypt’s position.
