Palestinian Witness Describes Giulio Regeni's Torture in Cairo
November 21, 2024, 1:39 pm

Palestinian Witness Describes Giulio Regeni's Torture in Cairo

علم مصر

A Palestinian witness who was detained in the same secret police facility in Cairo where Giulio Regeni was tortured stated that he saw Regeni blindfolded and exhausted from the torture. The witness provided his testimony in a video presented during the in absentia trial of four Egyptian intelligence officers accused of torturing the Italian student to death.

The former detainee stated in the video shown in court, "Giulio Regeni was handcuffed behind his back and blindfolded." He added, "I saw him again as he was leaving the interrogation, exhausted from the torture. He was between two jailers who were carrying him on their shoulders. They were taking him back to the cells."

Regeni, a 28-year-old researcher at the University of Cambridge studying street unions in Cairo, is believed to have been tortured to death between January 25 and February 3, 2016, after Egyptian security officers concluded he was a spy.

General Tarek Sabir and the officers under his command, including Colonel Athar Kamel Mohamed Ibrahim, Colonel Helmi, and Major Magdi Ibrahim Abdelal Sharif, are on trial in absentia in Rome after Egypt refused to inform them of the proceedings.

Regeni's mother, Paola Deffendi, stated that the torture her son endured was so severe that she could only recognize him "by the tip of his nose." She added that "all the evil in the world" had been inflicted upon her son's body.

The Palestinian witness further noted in the documentary, "Regeni was not naked; he was wearing clothes—dark pants and a white T-shirt. I saw another prisoner with signs of torture on his back."

He also mentioned that the jailers repeatedly pressured him with questions, asking, "Giulio, where did you learn techniques to withstand interrogation?" He recalled that they used electric shocks and tortured him electrically. In addition to the jailers, the witness stated in court that there were investigators and officers he had not seen before, as well as a psychologist.

He concluded, "There was no contact with the outside world: it felt like being in a tomb. I was kidnapped, detained, and then released without reason." Amnesty International has reported that Regeni is one of hundreds of political prisoners believed to be "disappeared" in Egypt each year.

According to an Italian autopsy report, Regeni's body showed major signs of extreme torture: contusions and bruises all over from severe beating; extensive bruising from kicks and blows with sticks; more than twenty bone fractures, including seven broken ribs, all fingers and toes, as well as legs, arms, and shoulder blades; multiple stab wounds on his body, including the soles of his feet, possibly from an ice pick or similar sharp instrument; numerous cuts all over his body made with a sharp object suspected to be a razor; extensive cigarette burns; a larger burn mark between the shoulder blades caused by a hard, hot object; a brain hemorrhage; and a broken cervical vertebra, which ultimately caused his death.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.