Alexander Stille’s article concerning the death of Giulio Regeni (Chronicle of a disappearance, 4 October) was informative and well judged. As one who provided Giulio with some guidance and contacts early in his research, can I confirm two points?
The first is that there was nothing unusual or subversive about his research. I have been involved with similar research on trade union organisation in many countries over 40 years, and Giulio’s method of interviews and observation was in an honourable tradition going back over a century to the Webbs.
The second point is that, so far as I am aware, Cambridge University has been as open in the investigation as circumstances have permitted. Because I had retired, I was not party to any official response. But I do know that, as Stille observed, those colleagues with direct research interests and contacts in Egypt are necessarily constrained by the current situation. I should add that, in March, after delivering an international petition to the Egyptian embassy calling for an independent investigation into Giulio’s death, we were generously thanked by the Italian ambassador.
William Brown
Emeritus professor of industrial relations, University of Cambridge