Truth and justice for Giulio Regeni: Senator Elena Cattaneo guest at the Università Mediterranea

Organized by the Doctoral School directed by Professor Felice Arena, the event is part of the "Universities for Giulio Regeni" initiative promoted by Senator for Life and scientist Elena Cattaneo, a distinguished guest of the University of Reggio Calabria. 

" Ten years after the disappearance of the young researcher in Egypt, a reflection is warranted: not all facts can be treated as simple news items, which, over time, often end up in oblivion. Instead, they must represent moments of shared reflection to respond to the need for truth."

"This story touches us. No matter how much we try to manipulate the facts, the truth doesn't change."

The Università Mediterranea diReggio Calabria hosted a special screening of the documentary "Giulio Regeni - Tutto il male del mondo," which opened with a touching testimony from Giulio's parents. " Our son had so much faith, but the context betrayed him. The paranoia of a dictatorship ."

The event was well attended by young people—PhD students, graduate students, university civil service students, and those working in the school system—who shared the value of "non-negotiable and non-negotiable rights," such as dignity and the freedom to study and research.

" The response from the national university system, involving 76 universities, was truly significant. And today  ," emphasized Rector Professor Giuseppe Zimbalatti, " we are honored to have Senator for Life Elena Cattaneo, a world-renowned pharmacologist, present, whom we thank in particular along with her staff. Ten years after the young researcher's disappearance in Egypt, a reflection is warranted: not all events can be treated as mere news, which, over time, often fade into oblivion. Instead, they must represent moments of shared reflection to respond to the need for truth ."

“ This story touches us. No matter how much one tries to manipulate the facts, the truth doesn't change .” Senator Elena Cattaneo began her remarks by addressing the young people of the Università Mediterranea, adding: " Ten years have passed since Giulio Regeni's passing, but he continues to do things, to bring people together and unite. Today at the Università Mediterranea, with Rector Giuseppe Zimbalatti, graduate students, students, and the city's schools, we gather for the 63rd stage of a long journey that is crossing the entire country, from Aosta to Catania, from Cagliari to L'Aquila. The message that comes from such broad involvement of universities and the great participation the events are registering is clear: the country, " the senator emphasizes, " is on Giulio's side and that of his family, to whom we also owe a great deal. Paola Deffendi and Claudio Regeni, together with the lawyer Alessandra Ballerini, challenged a regime, while our governments looked the other way, for a battle for truth and justice, in defense of Giulio's dignity and that of all of us. A battle that we are called to defend and support, a little piece each ”.

Professor Felice Arena recalls the figure of Giulio Regeni: " a citizen of the world who believed in the power of ideas. Time cannot transform everything in silence. This is why we are here today: to renew not only the memory of our Italian researcher but above all our commitment to believing that truth is not an option but a duty ."

The final debate will take place in the Quistelli Hall with Professor Marina Mancini, Professor of International Law. " Giulio was a passionate researcher and a citizen whose fundamental rights were violated, starting with the torture he was subjected to. We must continue to ascertain the truth, especially in our dealings with third countries ," Professor Mancini