Egypt has rejected a request by Italy to hand over records of phone calls made by the Italian student who was abducted, tortured and killed in Cairo.
Senior prosecutor Mustafa Suleiman addressed a news conference a day after Italy recalled its ambassador to protest what it described as a lack of cooperation in the investigation of the killing of Giulio Regeni, whose body was found in February, nine days after he disappeared, bearing signs of torture.
Suleiman said Egypt rejected the request because it violated Egyptian laws and the constitution. He said the Italians later told an Egyptian delegation visiting Rome this week that the continuation of judicial cooperation between the two nations over the case hinged on meeting their request for the records, which include those of subscribers in the Cairo suburb where Regeni’s body was found Feb. 3.
“The Egyptian delegation reasserted its uncompromising rejection,” said Suleiman, who led the senior judicial and security team that reviewed the case with Italian officials in Rome this week.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesdat said his country deeply regreted Regeni’s death and intended to “transparently” continue its “full cooperation” with Italy to resolve the case and bring the culprits to justice.
Regeni went missing on Jan. 25, the fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising, when police were out in force to prevent demonstrations, leading to speculation that Egyptian security forces were behind his abduction and death. The Interior Ministry has denied any involvement.
