Saudi closes embassy in Egypt over protests against crimes of Saudi regime


Publication time:

28 April 2012, 19:02





Saudi Arabia has decided to recall its ambassador to Cairo and close its
diplomatic missions in Egypt after protests outside its embassy over an
arrested Egyptian lawyer, state news agency SPA reported.




An official spokesman said on Saturday that the measures were decided in
response to demonstrations outside its missions in Egypt following the
announcement of the arrest of the Egyptian lawyer in Saudi Arabia.



Hundreds of Egyptians have rallied outside the Saudi embassy this week
to demand the release of Ahmed el-Gezawi, who was detained in Saudi
Arabia for allegedly insulting the kingdom's monarch.



On Tuesday, hundreds of Egyptians protested outside the embassy demanding the release of an Egyptian human rights activist.



The protesters chanted slogans against the Saudi regime as they called
for the immediate release of Ahmed Mohammed al-Gizawi, who was arrested
on arrival at Jeddah airport on April 17.



Gizawi was detained following a sentence of one year in prison and 20
lashes delivered against him in absentia for criticism of the Saudi
government.



Gizawi, who travelled to the Gulf state on pilgrimage, was being
targeted for his activism in favor of Egyptian detainees in Saudi
prisons.




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