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Egypt delegation in Saudi to mend ties met with Egyptian irony, resentment
Manar Ammar Published in Bikya Masr on 04 - 05 - 2012

The Egyptian delegation that arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to mend relation between the two countries over the imprisoning of Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi was met with irony and resentment by the Egyptian online community, who called the delegation “the beggars delegation.”
Alaa Lasheen (@3laa_Lasheen) wrote on his Twitter account: “They don't represent Egypt, They represent themselves. You are willing to kiss feet to get money.” Nawara Negem (@nawaranegm) wrote: “We will receive the beggars delegation in the airport with shoes.”
The delegation included Parliament speaker Saad al-Katatny, a representative from al-Azhar and the Coptic church and a number of journalists, including controversial writer Mostafa Bakry, who is known for his close ties with former dictators such as Muammar Gaddafi and the Mubarak family. Also, political leader Ayman Nour and Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party MP Essam el-Erian are also present.
Online activists said the delegation dose not represent them and accused them of harming Egyptian dignity abroad. Mass protests outside the Saudi embassy in Giza forced the ambassador to flee Egypt and the embassy to shut down last week.
Gizawi's arrest enraged Egyptians who took to the street to protest his arrest. Gizawi was arrested on April 17 upon his arrival at the King Abdullah International Airport to take part in the religious pilgrimage of Ummrah, but was stopped by security and detained.
False reports said he was sentenced to one year and 20 lashes in absentia over criticizing the Saudi king, which enraged Egyptians, especially that Gizawi is a human rights activist who previously sued the kingdom and the Egyptian foreign ministry over the illegal detention of some 50 Egyptians in Saudi prisons.
The Saudi authorities later announced the news as false and said he was arrested for smuggling drugs, 21,000 Xanaxs pills in powdered milk cartoon. Egyptian media and the rights community were in an uproar over the drugs allegations and refused to accept the Saudi story. War of words started between the two countries and protests were contentious.

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