L’affaire Regeni. La (liberté de) recherche, une question d’intérêt national?

The article builds on the parliamentary hearing of representatives of the Italian Society for Middle Eastern Studies (SeSaMO) at the Commission of enquiry for the murder of Giulio Regeni, held in April 2020. After an in-depth analysis of the common narrative on Regeni’s research and the responsibility of his supervisor, the author clarifies the Italian academic procedures related to fieldwork abroad and the degree of autonomy of PhD students. Increasing insecurity in the MENA region, attested by several cases of “academic prisoners”, is then analysed in the light of the post-1989 geopolitical shift when Italian foreign policy in the Mediterranean had to be reassessed. Finally, emphasis is laid on the importance of fieldwork and fresh literature exploring how to navigate research challenges in areas at risk.