Welcome back, Patrick! The Embrace of the University of Bologna

Patrick Zaki came back to the University of Bologna. On his return to Italy, Patrick was welcomed by Rector Giovanni Molari and Professor Rita Monticelli. He arrived this evening at the Rectorate of the University of Bologna where he was presented with the degree certificate in the Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Women's and Gender Studies.

"These have been three difficult and at times dramatic years" said Rector Giovanni Molari "but it is now time to celebrate. We felt it was only right that Patrick's first stop of his return to Italy was our University because, by history and vocation, the University is a place of freedom and pluralism, a place 'of the world' of which you, Patrick, are a citizen, a place beyond and above parties.

These three years taught us many lessons that we now carry with us. Our university community is strong and united, and it proved capable to respond strongly and to demonstrate whenever necessary. It is no coincidence that the defence of human rights lies in the first lines of our Statute. We learnt from you, Patrick, that we must resist because your perseverance proved to be fundamental. We showed that we can defend human rights through spontaneous and continuous mobilisation, which has brought us this far.

A heartfelt thought goes to those who are still struggling and fighting. Among them are Ahmad Reza Jalali, a researcher at the University of Eastern Piedmont currently in prison in Iran, and family members of Giulio Regeni who are still waiting for answers on the death of their son. And there are so many others who fight every day for the freedom of speech and expression in their countries."

The Rector then thanked Prof. Rita Monticelli and the whole community of the University of Bologna, along with Mayor Lepore and the people of Bologna, and Amnesty International, which has always fought to demand Patrick's release. Moreover, he thanked the Italian Prime Minister together with the rest of the government, which supported and facilitated Patrick's release and pardon, as well as Ambassador Quaroni, who has been a key contact point over all these years.

"Patrick, I wish you a peaceful and free life where you can choose what you think is right for you with no one urging you to do what they want you to do. The exposure and prestige you now have is also a great responsibility. Your strength has been and will always be your independence: we wish you to always maintain it."

Rector Molari then presented Patrick with his degree certificate: "Whit this degree" the Rector said "you have become a graduate of the University of Bologna and a permanent member of our community. I'm delighted to present it to you here, today, as a proof of free and independent thinking, as a symbol of academic studies that are above all a commitment to improving the world."

Professor Rita Monticelli then took the floor. "The first day I met Patrick in 2019," she said, "we started a class on utopia, and we always said that utopia is achievable. A feature of utopias and dystopias, even the worst, is always hope. We have never lost it and we are here today to celebrate Patrick."

"I'm here at last!" exclaimed Patrick Zaki. "It is a dream come true after all these years. I think there are no words in any language to describe how I feel today. It is a wonderful feeling to be back in the university and city where I belong.

It seems incredible that when I first arrived here four years ago, I did not know anyone, and today everyone is here waiting for me. I have waited so long for this moment, it is amazing to be here again in Bologna, which is home for me.

The support I received during all these years cannot be described by words. I want to thank all those who helped me in these years both from Egypt and Italy: friends, colleagues, NGOs, Amnesty International, members of academia and civil society, and all those who worked for me in the Italian institutions, all the way up to the Prime Minister."

Patrick's return to Bologna marks the end of a long wait of almost three and a half years marked by a feeling of deep and constant concern and by many distressing moments. These were long months during which our University's broad community, together with the entire city of Bologna and many associations and organisations, never ceased to make Patrick feel their sympathy while always keeping the attention on his story and hope alive.

Patrick Zaki was arrested at Cairo airport on 7 February 2020. At the time, he had been enrolled in the Erasmus Mundus Master's Degree in Women's and Gender Studies (GEMMA) for a few months only. He was going back to Egypt for the holidays, after which he was supposed to return to Bologna to continue his studies.

Instead, after that day, he spent 22 months in prison, where he had very little contact with the outside world. It was only after the end of his pre-trial detention, on 8 December 2021, that he could resume his studies. Even though he was not allowed to leave Egypt, he continued his studies online. As a result, he completed his exams and prepared his dissertation, which he successfully defended online on 5 July from Cairo.

Meanwhile, his legal case continued with a series of hearings and adjournments that for a long time seemed never-ending. It was only a few days ago that this story full of hard and distressing moments finally reached a happy ending.

Patrick Zaki's immediate wish was to return to Italy, to his Bologna and University. The awarding of the degree certificate crowns his troubled academic journey and is Patrick's first opportunity to reunite with his community. We are now waiting for the big celebration in Piazza Maggiore planned for Sunday 30 July at 8 PM together with Bologna City Council.