Egyptian newspaper: Guardian article proves Regeni was a spy because he spoke foreign languages

Egypt's Al-Bawaba newspaper published an article alleging that an investigative piece by the Guardian into the death of Italian student Giulio Regeni proves he was a spy because he spoke several languages.

The British newspaper recently published an in-depth investigation into Regeni’s death, detailing aspects of his life, including his friendships and circumstances of his death. It didn’t allege his involvement in any intelligence matters.

Regeni disappeared on the fifth anniversary of the January 25 revolution, while on his way to visit a friend in downtown Cairo, an area that was heavily occupied by security forces. His body was found on the side of a road in February showing signs of torture, including cuts, bruises, cigarette burns and multiple stab wounds. The Guardian article strongly suggested Egyptian security forces were involved in Regeni’s death.

Conversely, the privately owned Al-Bawaba newspaper article made almost no mention of the circumstances of Regeni’s death, focusing instead on “evidence” proving he was a spy. Such evidence, the article claimed includes the fact that Regeni spoke five languages, and that the young researcher, who lived in Egypt, had the numbers of foreigners and Egyptians on his phone.

Al-Bawaba miscited the Guardian’s headline, claiming it was, “Giulio Regeni ... Was he a spy?” instead of, “Who murdered Giulio Regeni?”

The sole basis for Al-Bawaba’s article appears to be a quote from the Guardian article, in which the author speculated that Egypt’s security services, who are generally suspicious of foreigners, may have thought Regeni was a spy, due to his linguistic ability and contacts.

Al-Bawaba concluded the article with a quote from the Guardian: “In this closed world, Giulio Regeni, with his ability to speak five languages, his mobile phone full of foreign and Egyptian contacts, might look like a spy, and police, in a system with little or no accountability, might make reckless mistakes.”

This is not the first time Egyptian media has accused Regeni of being a spy. Conspiracy theories have ranged from him working for British intelligence to his death being part of a conspiracy to disrupt Egyptian-Italian relations.

Regeni’s death has sparked international outrage and tension between Egypt and Italy. Italian authorities have alleged multiple times that Egyptian authorities have not been fully cooperative in the investigation into Regeni’s death.