Masters student, Patrick George Zaki, has been awaiting trial since his detainment on February 7th, 2020. He was detained for 22 months until December 21st, 2021. Since his release, his trial has been delayed 9 times, most recently to May 9th, 2023, putting him in legal limbo and preventing him from continuing his studies.
April 15th, 2023
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Office of the President
Al Ittihadia Palace
38Q9+GQR, Al Nadi, El-Montaza, Heliopolis,
Cairo Governorate
4460210
Arab Republic of Egypt
p.spokesman@op.gov.eg
Dear President el-Sisi:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers, and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
This letter is concerned with the current status and future of Patrick George Zaki. On February 7 2020, Mr. Zaki was detained in Cairo after arriving to visit his family. At the time, Zaki was studying for a Master’s degree in gender and women’s studies at the University of Bologna in Italy, on leave from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). His detainment lasted 22 months until his release on December 8th, 2021. Since then, his case has been habitually postponed, the latest being the ninth postponement to May 9th, 2023. Furthermore, despite the fact that this case is concerned with the non-violent freedom of expression, the court hearing his case is the special emergency state security court in Mansoura, which normally hears the most serious charges of terrorism. The charges against him involve allegedly spreading “false news” in and out of Egypt, in the form of an article describing the difficulties he faced in being a coptic Christian, for which Zaki may be sentenced to up to five years in prison. He cannot appeal any decision once he has been sentenced. He is thus in legal limbo and unable to return to Italy to finish his degree.
We write to urge you to ensure that Zaki is treated fairly and is granted the ability to return to Italy to pursue his studies, as well as the ability to appeal any potential sentencing. We further urge that whatever legal proceedings are held in his case meet international standards for fair trials, including promptness. If the charges are simply political in origin, he must be released immediately and unconditionally. These charges directly contradict the National Strategy for Human Rights 2021-2026 put forth by you only days before the indictment.
Thank you for your attention to this serious matter. We will be closely following developments in this case.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich, Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander Greer
Co-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Cc:
Antony J. Blinken
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20520 USA
Phone: (202) 647-4000
Twitter: @ABlinken
Ambassador Motaz Zahran
Ambassador of Egypt to the United States
3521 International Court NW,
Washington, DC, United States 20008
consulate@egyptembassy.net
Phone: (202) 895-5400
Twitter: @MotazZahran
Sameh Hassan Shoukry
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Masbero-Kornish El Nile Street
Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Contact.Us@mfa.gov.eg
Phone: 25796334/39 – 25772500
Fax: 25748822
Daniel Rubinstein
Charge d’Affaires to the Arab Republic of Egypt
5 Tawfik Diab Street
Qasr El Nil, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
Telephone: (20-2) 2797 3300
Fax: (20-2) 2797 3200
Twitter: @USEmbassyCairo