Giulio Regeni murder

Giulio Regeni was a doctoral researcher from the University of Cambridge, working on the independent labour movement in Egypt, whose apparently tortured body was found on a road outside Cairo on 3 February.

The letter reports that Giulio's murder is an example of 'the growing danger posed by the current political climate in Egypt to all those engaged in academic work. Violations of academic freedom and freedom of expression are on the rise in Egypt and according to the Middle East Studies Association they include the denial of entry to the country and harassment of numerous scholars and researchers; gross state interference in university student and faculty governance; the dismissals and expulsions of hundreds of students and faculty and the sentencing of academics to death.

'We, therefore, call on the Egyptian authorities to respect international norms regarding academic freedom, various provisions of Egyptian law, and international treaties to which your government is a signatory.

As trade unionists we also call on the Egyptian authorities to desist from its suppression of the independent labour movement and ensure genuine freedom of association for Egyptian workers.'

UCU letter to Egyptian embassy: Giulio Regeni, Feb 16 [56kb]

More than 4,600 academics signed an open letter calling for an inquiry into Giulio's death and other forced disappearances in Egypt.