On Friday night, Cambridge students and residents gathered on King’s Parade to hold a vigil on the third anniversary of Cambridge student Giulio Regini’s disappearance.

This has been the third time that Cambridge has gathered in the same spot on 25th January to demand justice for Giulio, as mirrored in speeches from Amnesty members and other supporters.

Following the speeches a minute’s silence began at 6:41pm, when the last communication from Giulio was received.

MP for Cambridge Daniel Zeichner spoke of his frustration, being “tired of waiting for parliament to hear the case seriously”.

Since Regini’s death, there has been a lack of progress in the investigation. Amnesty representatives at the vigil spoke of how they want the government in Egypt to make serious efforts in taking the perpetrators into a court of law and demanded justice to all those who had disappeared in Egypt.

“Cambridge never gives up on its quest for truth”

Students attending remarked that the sometimes dangerous nature of academic research felt more close to home than before, and that issues of academic freedom became more apparent upon listening to the speeches.

A message of hope also came across, as since last year’s vigil progress has been made. At a meeting in November 2018 between Egyptian and Italian prosecutors, five suspects were named.

Zeichner has written to the foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to ask for more to be done, and said he was “disappointed that it was up to investigative journalists and Amnesty International to find out what has happened” and asked the government “what they had done”.

The speech ended on the powerful statement from Zeichner that “Cambridge never gives up on its quest for truth.”

Alex Mayer, Member of European Parliament for the East of England, noted how even though the students who knew Giulio had moved away, the search for truth and justice continues in Cambridge.

Hugh Sandeman, Amnesty Country Coordinator for Egypt, spoke of how the progress made has shown the practical purpose of the gathering, and that as further details of the case emerge, we must keep the pressure up for truth.

Regini, an Italian PhD student, had been studying at Girton College and was visiting Cairo for research into trade unions when he disappeared on 25th January 2016. His body was later found on 2nd February 2016, showing signs of torture. Last night’s vigil was one many that took place at the same time, some across Italy.

Amnesty International will be holding another vigil on 2nd February outside the Egyptian Embassy in London, and will be hosting a seminar on 4th February at the Old Divinity Schools on Regini and issues of human rights in Egypt.