“The best feeling is freedom.” Patrick Zaki hardly seems to believe in releasing him yet. After the presidential pardon in Egypt, which came with Italian mediation, the student tries to take back the reins of his life, suspended for more than three years, and plan his imminent future: return to Bologna as soon as possible (“the long-awaited dream”, he says in a tweet), and then return to Cairo to marry his fiancée. A trip that keeps slipping: expected in Italy yesterday, then today, he himself announced “a slight change of plans” with the return tomorrow with a regular flight to Milan. In fact, the young Egyptian researcher refused a special flight from Cairo to Ciampino made available by Chigi Palace to avoid having to meet or be assisted by the Italian authorities. A refusal that would have irritated the Government, for which Zaki himself had thanked the day before.
“Deciding to travel on a scheduled flight is not a gesture of political opposition, but of independence,” said Riccardo Noury, a spokesman for Amnesty Italy. “The reputation of human rights defenders is based on their independence from governments. They are grateful and appreciate when things are done for them, and in fact Patrick has repeatedly thanked the government and the embassy”, Noury clarified.
“That possibility was offered to him but it is not an obligation,” minimized Foreign Minister Anotnio Tajani, when claiming the success of the government’s action: “We were interested in freeing him, how he returns is his choice.” Similar tones from Defense Minister Guido Crosetto: “A personal choice that also saved us money. As a result, he’s fine.”
Zaki’s decision, however, has fueled the controversy, with the majority denouncing the exploitation by the opposition: “The center-right does the deeds and the Italian and international left lives only in rancor and hatred,” declared the forced senator Maurizio Gasparri. “We want to remind young Patrick that saying ‘thank you’ is not a political act, nor a choice of sides, any more than getting on the state flight and having your picture taken with the authorities is. But only human gratitude and good manners”, echoed Maurizio Lupi, leader of Noi Moderati.
But for Luana Zanella, group leader of the Alleanza Verdi and the Left in the Chamber, the choice of Zaki seems instead “an appreciable behavior, aware that the game is open to all those who are still in prison”, as he himself recalled as soon as he was released. His departure to Italy has been postponed again because -Zaki himself explained on Twitter- “the official documents to lift the travel ban will be finalized on Sunday (tomorrow, edition) at noon”. The student – arrested in 2020 as soon as he landed at Cairo airport on his return from Italy – wants this time to move with extreme security and, before leaving, make sure “that the legal situation is 100% clear”. But don’t worry Bologna – says the investigator – I’ll be there in a couple of days ».
