Patrick Zaky meets family: "Ready to stay in jail for a long time"

After months of waiting, the family of Patrick Zaky was able to meet him in prison last week. The mother of the student from the University of Bologna arrested in Cairo in February was admitted to an interview with her son in the Tora maximum security prison, just outside Cairo. His sister Marise and his father could only greet him from afar. The last meeting with family members dates back to March, when Patrick was detained in Mansoura, the family’s hometown where he was taken in the first days after his arrest.

Last week’s visit did not dispel all worries about the 29-year-old boy: the family members discovered that none of the letters from friends they had delivered to the prison reached the young man, and that only two of those written by family members were delivered to him. . But overall Patrick, as thin and tried as he was, appeared healthy and determined to stay lucid in a situation that, he realized, could last longer than he initially feared.

After the visit, a few days ago Patrick also managed to get the family a note: “I am in good health and I hope you are in good health”. The news of the ticket – reproduced on this page – was communicated on social networks by the activists of ‘Patrick Libero’. Friends have worried “about his mental health” because of the note’s short words and formal tone, but those who follow the situation closely explain that using these terms is the only way to get something out of the mesh of censorship. .

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The note written by Patrick to his family: “I am in good health”

Zaky is accused among other things of propaganda against the government and incitement to violence. Family members hoped to be able to see him again today, the day of visiting Tora: but they were only allowed to leave an envelope with food and clothes for the guards, like every week. However, the hope is that there may be another visit soon.