Italy, Egypt renew relations despite unresolved murder
The return of Italy’s ambassador to Egypt more than a year after the torture and slaying of Italian student Giulio Regeni in Cairo heralds new opportunities for cooperation between the countries.
CAIRO — A murder that led Italy to recall its ambassador to Egypt last year remains unsolved, but the countries are once again engaging in diplomatic relations by restoring ambassador positions and promising to cooperate on a continuing investigation of the death.
Egypt refused, and still refuses, to admit that members of its police force were involved in the torture and murder of Italian doctoral student Giulio Regeni, despite overwhelming indications that they were. His brutalized body was found Feb. 3, 2016, in a ditch outside Cairo. Italy rejected the results of Egypt's investigation and disproved multiple scenarios the government put forward to assign blame elsewhere. Eventually, Egypt admitted that Regini had been under surveillance before he disappeared Jan. 25.
