“I’m finally here, a dream come true. Thanks to Meloni and the Italian authorities”

“Mine was a success story, but in Egypt there are still hundreds of people in prison, we ask that they be released. They deserve a presidential pardon like me”. Thus Patrick Zaki, addressing the rectory of the University of Bologna

“I want to resume my university career and as a human rights defender. I will go to Cairo for a few days, but then I will return to Bologna. Thus Patrick Zaki, addressing the rectorate of the University of Bologna

“Justice for Giulio Regeni”. Thus Patrick Zaki, addressing the rectory of the University of Bologna.

“Bologna is my second home: I have enjoyed a lot of support, I have seen this support in three years and it has also been seen in Cairo.” So Patrick Zaki during the press conference at the University of Bologna. «I thank the Italian and Egyptian authorities, the NGOs, civil society. the leaders of the Italian state to the president of the council,” Zaki said.

I wish Zaki a free and independent life, without having his jacket pulled. It’s nice to have him here, the University is a place of freedom and pluralism”. This was stated by the rector of the University of Bologna Giovanni Molari at the press conference for the return of the activist to Bologna.

Patrick Zaki has become the rector of the University of Bologna. The activist, accompanied by the rector Giovanni Molari, entered the building in via Zamboni through a back door. There were around a hundred people waiting outside, including journalists, friends and activists. Inside, Zaki greeted and hugged some people, the press conference will be held soon.

«The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, met with the Egyptian Prime Minister, Moustafà Madbouly. In the bilateral meeting, on the sidelines of the Rome conference, Meloni renewed her gratitude to President Al Sisi for the pardon granted to Patrick Zaki. The meeting focused on the strong collaboration between Rome and Cairo, on the fight against illegal immigration and on Italian investments in Egypt.” This was reported by diplomatic sources during the international summit that takes place in La Farnesina.

«I’m happy to be in Italy, see you in Bologna»: said Patrick Zaky upon his arrival at Malpensa airport speaking to the Rainews microphones. “It’s the most important day of my life, it’s good to be in Italy,” Zaki said.

“Today is a day to mark on the human rights calendar: it is wonderful to be here in Bologna on the same day that Patrick returns there, after a judicial persecution that began in February 2020. He spent 22 months in very harsh prison, got caught up in a trial for a crime he never committed, suffered a shameful sentence that the Egyptian authorities remedied with a pardon.” This was stated by Riccardo Noury, spokesman for Amnesty International Italy, the day the Egyptian activist returned. «Patrick – he continues – has repeatedly thanked and expressed his appreciation for the efforts made at all levels, including the Italian institutions, to bring this day to life. Now is the time for us to thank him: for resisting jail, for urging us to act every day, for never forgetting fellow Egyptian prisoners of conscience, for making possible the biggest campaign for a prisoner of conscience in the 21st century. We hope that Patrick now has the serenity he deserves and that he can decide freely about his personal, academic and professional future”. As for Amnesty International, we will continue to campaign and demand the release of all other prisoners of conscience in Egypt and around the world,” concludes Noury.

Patrick Zaki is back in Italy. The Egyptian activist has just arrived aboard an EgyptAir Boeing 737 that took off from Cairo and landed at Milan Malpensa airport.

Patrick Zaki passed passport control and is therefore confirmed to have obtained the travel ban lift at noon today. “Ready”: the recent Egyptian graduate from the University of Bologna limited himself to responding with a message to ANSA when asked if he had already gone through passport control at Cairo airport.

“Wish me luck, I hope to be there in a few hours” said Patrick Zaki as he entered the Cairo airport with his fiancée Rény Iskander and her sister Marise. Greeting them outside Terminal 3 were Patrick’s mother, a visibly emotional Ms Hala, and father George. The “good luck” that the Egyptian researcher wished for himself was implicit but clearly linked to the fact that the revocation of his travel ban was only to be formalized today at noon Egyptian time, therefore less than two hours before the scheduled takeoff at 1:55 p.m. (12:55 p.m. in Italy) with an Egyptair flight to Milan Malpensa to catch and then continue by car to Bologna. Yesterday one of his lawyers reminded ANSA that the only way to guarantee the revocation of an expatriation ban in Egypt is to try to pass passport control with a plane ticket, as Patrick is doing.

“Thank you to the Italian government for what they have done in the last few days, I really appreciate everything they have done,” Patrick Zaki told reporters at Cairo airport. “I’m very excited to be here,” he said. “Thanks to the Italian diplomacy in Egypt,” he added, citing the Italian ambassador in Cairo, Michele Quaroni, and councilor Marco Cardoni.

Patrick Zaki entered Terminal 3 at Cairo Airport to board an Egyptair flight to Milan. “I am happy to be on my way to Italy. Thanks to Bologna, thanks to everyone, thanks to the Italians who have worked in these three years to get to this moment”, were his first words addressed to the media there, including ANSA.

«We have economic interests in Egypt, but that does not exempt us from adopting some diplomatic initiatives, as was done with Zaki and as is being done with Regeni. In both cases, Al Sisi has repeatedly assured Italy of collaboration and support to reach a solution. In one of the two, a result was obtained with diplomatic activity, without clamor, without insults. We will continue to do the same for Regeni.” This was stated by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in an interview with the newspaper ‘La Stampa.