(ANSA) - CAIRO, 14 JUL - The pre-trial detention in Cairo of PatrickZaki, the Egyptian student of the Alma Mater University of Bologna arrested in February last year for propaganda on the internet, has been extended by another 45 days. This was reported to ANSA by Lobna Darwish, a representative of the NGO "Eipr" ("the Egyptian initiative for personal rights") announcing the outcome of a hearing held the day before yesterday and made known today. "Monday was held a session of hearings including that of the Egyptian student and the decision of the judges on whether or not to renew the detention, as usual, had not been announced. The previous hearing which had renewed the precautionary custody for the researcher and activist for civil rights was held the first June.
The 30-year-old was arrested under controversial circumstances on February 7 last year and faces up to 25 years in prison, according to Amnesty. Pre-trial detention in Egypt can last for two years. The charges against him are based on ten posts from a Facebook account that his lawyers consider fake but which have set up, among other things, the "dissemination of false news, incitement to protest and incitement to violence and terrorist crimes". For the first time since the first days of his arrest in February last year, Patrick Zaki was subjected to an interrogation for over two hours yesterday.
Amnesty international urges the government to "take some initiative", calling, "for example, the ambassador of Egypt to Italy". (HANDLE).