Researcher Zaki was sentenced to three years in prison in Egypt for writing an article about freedom of religion. But he does not have to serve the prison sentence on the orders of President Sisi. He could leave the country as early as Thursday.
Around 24 hours after being sentenced to three years in prison in Egypt, prominent human rights activist and researcher Patrick George Zaki has been pardoned. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned Zaki, well-known lawyer Mohammed al-Baker and other prisoners, the state news site Al-Ahram reported. The decision is part of a series of pardons given to prominent activists since April last year. In addition, the Egyptian public prosecutor’s office has since released “hundreds of political activists” in custody.
Relations with Italy are strained
The Egyptian Zaki lived as a student in Bologna, Italy, before his arrest and was arrested in early 2020 while visiting his home country in Egypt. He then spent 22 months in custody. However, he was released in December 2021. According to his lawyers, he was beaten and tortured with electric shocks while in detention. The authorities deny the allegations. The 32-year-old was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday for spreading false news. The charges stemmed from an article Zaki wrote in 2019 about discrimination against Coptic Christians in Egypt.
The case also caused a stir in Italy. Former Prime Minister Mario Draghi championed Zaki. Today’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Zaki would return to Italy on Thursday. Meloni thanked Al-Sisi for the “very important gesture”. She repeatedly brought up the case with Al-Sisi. On the subject of human rights, relations between Italy and Egypt are still overshadowed by the Giulio Regeni case. The Italian political scientist was found dead in Egypt in 2016 after severe torture. The circumstances of death have not been worked out to this day.
Protests and appeals after verdict
An estimated 60,000 people have been imprisoned for political reasons since al-Sisi came to power after a military coup ten years ago. Human rights organizations consistently report arbitrary arrests, torture, other ill-treatment and unfair mass trials. Activists are skeptical about a “national dialogue” launched by the Egyptian government at the beginning of the year – all the more so after Tuesday’s verdict. The coordinator of the format and head of the state information service, Diaa Raschwan, said on Tuesday that the Dialog Board of Trustees had appealed to Sisi to “release Zaki immediately”. Several members of the committee had previously announced their resignation.
Egypt is a key Washington ally and receives billions in US military aid. Prior to the pardon, the US State Department tweeted that it was “concerned” about Zaki’s conviction and called for his “immediate release” and that of “other unjustly detained people.” More than 40 Egyptian and international organizations – including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy – denounced the verdict as “scandalous”.