«How wonderful!» is the immediate comment of senator for life and scientist Elena Cattaneo, admiring the “stage” of the Strait at the Mediterranean University, and then promptly immersing herself in the meaning of her presence in Reggio: sharing – in the name of Giulio Regeni – with the rector Giuseppe Zimbalatti and with the entire academic community – “non-negotiable rights”, i.e. dignity, freedom of study and research.
La Mediterranea hosts a special screening of the documentary “Giulio Regeni – Tutto il male del mondo” produced by Fandango and Ganesh Produzioni and accompanies it to the Quistelli room – under the “direction” of Professor Marina Mancini of International Law – with a highly participated debate with students from the doctorate, degree courses, university civil service and the scholastic world. The event is organized by the Doctoral School of the University of Reggio Emilia directed by prof. Felice Arena, as part of the “Universities for Giulio Regeni” initiative promoted by Cattaneo.
«The response was important from the national university system with the involvement of 76 universities. But not everyone – highlights Zimbalatti – had the honor of the presence of Senator Cattaneo, a world-renowned pharmacologist, and therefore today we thank her from the bottom of our hearts. Ten years after the young researcher’s disappearance in Egypt, a consideration is obligatory: not to treat all the facts as simple news which, over time, often end up forgotten but to elevate them to a moment of shared reflection; thirsty for truth and justice. And this is what – concludes the rector – we promote today among many young people”.
The message that the senator addresses to the students is strong: «This story affects us. I hope that each of you comes away strengthened on a fundamental point: no matter how much you try to manipulate the reality of the facts, the truth does not change. So the role of all of us is to never take a step back but to stay there, where a truth can emerge, sooner or later”, claims Elena Cattaneo, with the beautiful image of that “square meter of public space to be occupied with one’s own decisions, to overcome mediocrity and indifference”.
The professor speaks of an always open wound. Felice Arena: «Giulio was a citizen of the world who believed in the power of ideas. We cannot allow time to transform everything in silence but we must renew our commitment to believing that the truth is not an option but a duty.” And so the one hundred minutes of the breath-taking documentary unfold, opening with the touching testimony of Giulio’s parents. «Our son had a lot of trust but found himself in a context that betrayed him. The paranoia of a dictatorship.”
Applause and emotions intertwine along questions that sow seeds of freedom and hope. «Giulio was a researcher driven by passion and a citizen who saw his fundamental rights violated, starting from the torture to which he was subjected», reiterates Professor Mancini for whom «we must not lower our guard in ascertaining the truth, also and above all in relations with third countries, such as Egypt».
And at the end, Senator Elena Cattaneo’s message to young people: «You have a great opportunity: to transform emotion into responsibility, indignation into participation».