Giulio Regeni and Egyptian democracy

He was an Italian student, secretly writing from Egypt for a left-wing Italian newspaper “Il Manifesto”. He was conducting a research into Egypt’s labor movement and was very critical of the Egyptian President, Sisi. Mr. Regeni died because of extensive tortures. Egyptian officials promised cooperation to find Regeni’s killers and a team of Italian/Interpol investigators is joining Egyptians’ ones in order to answer two main questions. Who took him? Why? In my humble view we’ll never know the truth. Strangely enough his death received a very limited coverage on Egyptian (government) television channels. And all that coverage exonerated the police. Italian officials seem very sceptical that Egypt would be willing to find those who killed him, because of the initial declarations by officials that Mr. Regeni died in a car accident. With cigarette burns and many other signs of torture?!....Please! Egypt’s foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, merely said that the two Countries had agreed to increase cooperation to determine the cause of the death. What does it mean?! Is that all, in light of the exceptional gravity of what happened?!      

Can we call it democracy? I’d like to. I’d need to. I’d hope it is.

But I am so disbelieving. Certainly that Government doesn’t like criticism. A human rights activist and journalist, Hossam Bahgat was “summoned” to Egyptian military intelligence office in Cairo. He‘s a soft-spoken activist, not a radical one. So eventually he was released, but it’s not clear whether he faces charges or not for publishing information that threatens national security. Is it difficult to decide? The detention itself and the prospect that he could be prosecuted in a military tribunal (military) is somewhat disturbing, on its own. Because these “meetings” often lead to the Country’s perverse justice system.

What has Mr. Bahgat published (on Mada Masr)? The story of the prosecution of 26 military officers plotting to overthrow Sisi government.  Twenty-six. Not just a few! This means something.

The founder of Al Masry Al Youm was arrested (no quotation marks here needed) because the newspaper published critical reports about the government. Now Salah Diab is being investigated for possible corruption.

Under the justification of fighting terrorism the detention of civilians in Egypt has become routine. And their prosecution is in military courts, not civilian courts. All forms of dissent have been closely confined, especially well known figures (to amplify the effects) in the human rights community.

Is it really so necessary silencing all dissenters?! Is Egypt's President so weak? Or is it truly a lack of democracy? Activist Mona Seif is warning foreigners to stay away from Egypt until security improves. This shouldn’t happen in a democratic Country.

Meanwhile world leaders are responding with resignation. Peace in the region is far more important. Alliances with Egypt too crucial to fail. So Sisi government is not confronted. America is giving 1,3 billion in military aid each year to Egypt, but its armed forces are committing human rights abuses. The indefinite balance of forces, of powers, of risks. But only civil liberties are paying the price. Is this balance correct, immutable? Egypt DESPERATELY needs international investment: shouldn’t trade, national security and military aid be more conditioned to respect and freedom of expression?

So, can we call it democracy? In the end…absolutely not. Whatever you want to call it: at least I hope it’s justified by other, more impelling reasons.

….Always humble,

Angiolino

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