A day of reflection, remembrance and civic commitment in honour of Giulio Regeni, to mark ten years since the disappearance of the Italian researcher who was abducted, tortured and killed in Cairo between January and February 2016. The event will take place on 28 April from 9:00 a.m. at the Polo Carmignani of the University of Pisa. It is organised by the University in collaboration with the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, as part of the national initiative “Universities for Giulio Regeni”.
The project, conceived by Senator for Life Elena Cattaneo and presented at the Italian Senate on 31 March, involves 76 Italian universities and over 15,000 participants. Between April and May, these participants will contribute to a wide programme of events dedicated to the theme of academic freedom, a core value of the academic community.
The Pisa event on 28 April will feature a screening of the documentary Giulio Regeni – Tutto il male del mondo, followed by discussions and reflections on rights, research and institutional responsibility. Speakers will include Senator Elena Cattaneo and Giulio Regeni’s parents, Paola Deffendi and Claudio Regeni. Alessandra Ballerini, the lawyer who has assisted the Regeni family in their search for truth for nearly ten years, will also be present.
“Ten years after Giulio Regeni’s tragic disappearance,” says Riccardo Zucchi, Rector of the University of Pisa, “the academic community renews its firm commitment to freedom of research and the protection of fundamental rights. Remembering Giulio means reaffirming that knowledge cannot exist without freedom, and that the academic community must continue to advocate for these values.”
“The academic world is reuniting to remember Giulio Regeni, not in a passive way, but in a way that urges us to uphold two fundamental principles: the right to academic and research freedom without risking one’s life, and the right to justice for individuals, against silence, omissions and the predominance of reasons of state,” said Alessandro Schiesaro, Director of the Scuola Normale Superiore. “We are therefore grateful to Senator Cattaneo for proposing an initiative that brings renewed attention to the Regeni case and to our responsibilities as scholars and citizens.”
“The case of Giulio Regeni is a turning point for the civic conscience of our country,” said Nicola Vitiello, Rector of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. “After his death, research can no longer be considered detached from the political tensions and contexts in which it takes place. For this reason, it is crucial to foster dialogue between academia and institutions to protect scientific autonomy and the work of researchers, particularly in critical contexts.”
“Thanks to the courage and strength of his family, Giulio Regeni’s story did not end with the discovery of his lifeless body in Cairo ten years ago,” recalls Senator Cattaneo. “On the contrary, Giulio continues to live and ‘do things’ through a movement of people who recognise themselves in the fundamental value of freedom, the very value he defended as a scholar.”
“We are honoured and grateful for this initiative, which involves many universities, with professors, students and PhD candidates, all of whom must always be protected,” said Giulio’s parents, Paola Deffendi and Claudio Regeni. “The documentary showcases Giulio as a principled and passionate researcher, while also highlighting the human rights violations committed against him.”
