An Egyptian graduate student and human rights advocate accused of spreading “fake news” was sentenced to three years in prison in Egypt on Tuesday, a harsh conclusion to a case that had inspired a mass outpouring of support in Italy, where he studied, and in Egypt.
Just recently, the student, Patrick Zaki, had earned a master’s degree with distinction, defending his thesis to professors at the University of Bologna by videoconference because Egypt had barred him from traveling.
Mr. Zaki was convicted of disseminating fake news — a charge prosecutors routinely bring against Egyptians who speak up about political matters — for a 2019 article he published online describing his experiences as a member of Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority.
As soon as the verdict was announced, Mr. Zaki, who was released from pretrial detention in December 2021, was rearrested in the courtroom, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the rights group where he had worked as a researcher.
Persons:
”, Patrick Zaki, Zaki
Organizations:
University of Bologna, Christian, Egyptian, Personal Rights
Locations:
Egypt, Italy, videoconference