Italian court convicts three Egyptian agents in Regeni kidnapping case

An Italian court on Thursday convicted three Egyptian agents in connection with the fatal kidnapping of Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University scholar whose death in January 2016 sparked an international investigation and strained diplomatic ties between Rome and Cairo.

The three defendants, members of Egypt's security apparatus, were each sentenced to 10 years in prison following the trial in Rome. The convictions were handed down in absentia, as the accused remained in Egypt and did not appear in court.

Regeni, a doctoral researcher studying independent trade unions, disappeared on January 25, 2016, during fieldwork in Cairo. His body was discovered days later bearing signs of torture. Authorities initially attributed his death to a traffic accident, but subsequent investigations by Italian and international observers pointed to abduction and extrajudicial killing by state security forces.

The case has remained a contentious issue between Italy and Egypt, with Italian prosecutors pursuing accountability while Egyptian authorities have disputed involvement. The court's ruling represents a significant moment in the years-long legal proceedings seeking justice for the young scholar's death.