Parents of Giulio Regeni call for sanctions on Egypt

The call for increased pressure of Egypt came as Regeni's bereaved parents accused the Egyptian government of failing to cooperate fully with the investigation into his death. 

Present at Wednesday's meeting of the sub-committee were human rights activists, lawyers and European politicians.

"Giulio's father Claudio outlined a range of measures he would like to see adopted, including embassies offering sanctuary to witnesses who are currently afraid to speak out," British MP Daniel Zeichner told the BBC.

The UK parliamentarian and supporter of the Justice For Giulio campaign also added that he would raise the concerns of the parents with the UK's Foreign Office.

This plea for further pressure on Egypt comes months after the European Parliament passed a resolution calling upon Egypt to assist Italian authorities to "enable a swift, transparent and impartial joint investigation."

The European legislature also condemned the "torture and assassination under suspicious circumstances of EU citizen Giulio Regeni."

His mutilated body was found a week later at the side of a road on Cairo's outskirts, suggesting he died at the hands of security services during an interrogation, an allegation the Egyptian government has strongly denied.