Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Egypt affirmed that human rights lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi's problem is “on its way to being resolved” in a phone call to an Egyptian television channel late on Monday. Saudi ambassador Ahmed al-Qattan said that “Egyptians will hear good news shortly.” He added that the ruling is merely a “preliminary sentence” that can easily be appealed. Qattan also condemned the attack on his kingdom after scores of Egyptians expressed their anger at the detention of Gizawi. The Saudi Kingdom has a long history of arresting and imprisoning Egyptian workers there, an issue that Gizawi was fighting for. Gizawi had filled several cases in Egyptian courts against the kingdom for arresting and allegedly torturing Egyptians residing in Saudi. The organization pointed out that Gizawi has already filed against the Saudi authorities at the South Cairo Court where he accused it of arbitrary detention and torture against a large number of Egyptian citizens working in Saudi Arabia without legal proceedings. He also demanded their release and their compensation for the violation of their rights and torture inflicted upon them in the Saudi prisons. Gizawi was arrested on April 16 upon his arrival in the kingdom to take part in the Umrah religious rituals. He was oblivious that a Saudi court sentenced him to a year in prison and 20 lashes for insulting the divine and the kingdom. Al-Karamah human rights organization said in a statement on Monday that soon after his arrival, the activist was referred to the Saudi judicial authorities in Jeddah, which issued a sentence against him in absentia without notifying him.
