Regeni parents urge EU to isolate Egypt (3)

(ANSA) - Brussels, June 15 - Italy and Europe must up the pressure on Egypt to obtain a transparent probe into the death of Giulio Regeni, tortured and murdered in Cairo, his parents said at the European Parliaments human rights commission Wednesday. Member States must recall their ambassadors and declare Egypt an unsafe country, Paola and Claudio Regeni said.
    "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.
    Claudio Regeni said "we want to thank the European Parliament for approving the resolution (to demand the truth from Egypt".
    "Now it is important that Egypt should feel a strong pressure from Europe and all its member States in order to obtain a transparent investigation.
    "I ask the member States to recall their ambassadors, declare Egypt an unsafe country, suspend accords on sending weapons, inter-force (collaboration) on spying and internal repression, suspend economic accords, monitor trials against activists, militant lawyers and journalists fighting for freedom in Egypt and offer protection and collaboration, also by offering visas to those who can offer news to Rome prosecutors".
    Regeni disappeared on January 25, the heavily policed fifth anniversary of the 2011 uprising that toppled former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and his mutilated body turned up in a ditch on the road to Alexandria on February 3. An autopsy confirmed Regeni had been severely tortured for days on end, and ultimately killed by having his neck broken.
    Egyptian authorities have offered up a series of explanations of the incident, including a car crash, a gay lovers' quarrel, and a kidnapping for ransom gone bad.
    Italy has not found any of these versions convincing.