Italian Senate suspends export of military equipment to Egypt

The Italian Senate voted Wednesday to suspend the export of F-16 parts to Egypt in an effort to pressure Egyptian authorities over their investigation into the death of Italian researcher Giulio Regeni.

The resolution, named “Regeni,” according to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, passed with the approval of 159 members. Fifty-five members voted against the decision and 17 abstained.

Corriere Della Sera described the measure as an attempt to pressure Egyptian authorities over their “lack of cooperation” in determining the circumstances of Regeni’s death.

Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed dismay at the decision on Thursday, maintaining it is inconsistent with the cooperation between investigators in both countries and undermines bilateral ties between the two nations.

The Cambridge doctoral candidate reportedly went missing in January 2016, amid a strong security presence on the fifth anniversary of the January 25 revolution, as he was taking the metro downtown from his home in Dokki. His body was found with signs of severe torture in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo 10 days after he disappeared.

Possible scenarios posited by Egyptian authorities as to the circumstances of Regeni’s death, such as the involvement of a five-member criminal gang, have been dismissed by Italian investigators, with Italian media speculating as to the involvement of Egyptian security due to Regeni’s research into Egyptian labor movements, which Egypt's authorities strongly deny.

The center-right parties in the Italian Senate were largely opposed to Wednesday’s decision, with Paolo Romani of Forza Italy arguing it would negatively impact Italy’s foreign policy, given the bilateral commitment to fighting terrorism.

Senator Nicola Lattore from the Democratic Party said the measure is intended to pressure Egyptian authorities without severely impacting the relationship between the two countries.

Two weeks ago Regeni’s parents appealed to the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee to “isolate Egypt” until authorities conduct a transparent investigation into Regeni’s death, Italian news agency Ansamed reported.

"I don't understand whether Italy is still a friend of Egypt or not: you don't kill the children of your friend," Paola Regeni said in Brussels. The family called on member states to recall their ambassadors and declare Egypt an unsafe country.

The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution in March, encouraging member states to suspend military aid and assistance to Egypt, and urging Egyptian authorities to be transparent in their investigation into Regeni’s death.