12/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 12 February, David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, called for both the “immediate” release of Patrick Zaky, the Egyptian student studying in Bologna who was arrested at Cairo airport on 7 February and for his “safe” return to his family and his studies. “I would like to remind the Egyptian authorities that the EU's relations with non-Member States are based on respect for human rights and civil rights”, he told the press. Sassoli said that he had discussed the issue with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who had assured him that he would raise the matter at the Foreign Affairs Council on 17 February. According to Amnesty International, Zaky, who is still in custody, was interrogated, beaten and tortured for 17 hours. (CG)