The Doctors Syndicate has called on the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a statement informing the public opinion of the efforts it has made to release doctor Rauf Al-Arabi, who is currently jailed in Saudi Arabia on charges of causing a Saudi princess's drug addiction. Al-Arabi has been sentenced to be imprisoned and lashed. In a statement, the syndicate stresses the importance of knowing the ministry's efforts in this regard in order not to manipulate the feelings and emotions of Al-Arabi's family. Knowing such efforts will enable the syndicate to try and obtain the release of Al-Arabi and his colleague Shawki Abd Rabbo, who has been jailed on the same charge, the statement goes on to say.
"There are still doubts about a Royal pardon for the doctor, as the Egyptian consulate has not confirmed or denied the news" the statement says. "The lashing has certainly been revoked and the doctor has not received the second phase of the sentence as scheduled. This is attributed to the great efforts made by the syndicate and Egyptian and foreign human rights organizations." The syndicate has affirmed that it called on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz to pardon the two doctors and bring them to a fair trial. The syndicate has also called on the Egyptian President and Minister of Foreign Affairs to take the same actions, the statement says, adding that the syndicate's efforts will not stop until justice is achieved in this case.
