An Egyptian researcher and activist has been arrested at Cairo’s international airport upon his arrival from Italy.
27-year-old Patrick George Zaki had been in Bologna since August for his postgraduate studies. According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), he returned to Egypt’s capital, Cairo, for a family visit on Friday, but was taken into custody at the airport and disappeared for 24 hours.
“EIPR demands the immediate release of Patrick George Zaki and an end to continued harassment and arbitrary detention of human rights professionals, members of civil society groups and journalists”, the group said in a statement.
Zaki works as a gender and human rights researcher for the EIPR. His lawyers said he was beaten, tortured and questioned about his activism before he appeared at a public prosecutor’s office in his hometown on Saturday.
The EIPR said prosecutors ordered that he remain in custody for 15 days. He is accused of a number of allegations, including publishing false news, inciting protests without permission and calling for the overthrow of the state.
The move was widely condemned by human rights groups. Egypt’s government has been constantly condemned for its crackdowns on human rights groups, but authorities have always denied the allegations.
