MPs, presidential candidates and rights activists urged the government to move swiftly to secure the release of lawyer and Egyptian activist Ahmed al-Gizawy who was detained in Saudi Arabia as per a verdict to imprison him for one year and whip him 20 times.
Saudi authorities had arrested Gizawy for libel against the Saudi king last week upon his arrival into the country. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry demanded Saudi authorities reveal the reasons for detaining Gizawy, who was arrested Tuesday upon arrival in Jeddah Airport, with his wife for the Umra pilgrimage.
Gizawy was detained for suing the Saudi king before the Egyptian judiciary over detained Egyptians in Saudi prisons.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Amr Roshdy said in a statement that Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr is personally following the case.
People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny, has received motions regarding Gizawy’s detention.
During the Monday evening session, Katatny said that he urged the Foreign Ministry to move swiftly help Gizawy and to overturn the verdict which was issued against him in absentia after he obtained a visa to enter Saudi Arabia for Umra.
Presidential aspirant Mohamed Selim al-Awa demanded that Saudi authorities issue a prompt statement to clarify the reasons and justifications for the detention of Gizawy, before Egypt undertakes legal procedures to release him.
Awa called upon the ruling military council to contact the Saudi authorities promptly to release Gizawy.
In a statement relayed by his presidential campaign, Awa expressed concern that the issue would harm relations between the two countries.
Presidential hopeful Khaled Ali said the Saudi authorities’ detention of Gizawy is a humiliation of Egyptians' dignity, adding that the ruling was enforced while Gizawy did not know about the lawsuit filed against him, or the verdict against him, which denied him the right to defend himself.
Ali’s presidential campaign said it will take part in the protests organized by political forces Tuesday outside the Saudi embassy to demand the release of the activist.
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said the detention of Gizawy is a violation of his right to freedom of movement and personal safety, saying that Gizawy was denied his right to a fair trial.
