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Palestinian Witness Describes Giulio Regeni's Torture in Cairo

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 Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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