Activism figure Wael Ghonim published a note on Facebook on April 30 offering apologies to Saudi Arabia Kingdom for joining in the bandwagon of anger over the arrest of Egyptian human rights lawyer Ahmed al-Gizawi. Gizawi, who was arrested on April 17 as he was entering the country to perform the religious Ummrah ritual was arrested in the Jeddah international airport and accused of smuggling drugs. News reports initially confirmed that Gizawi had a one-year sentence in absentia and 20 lashes. Saudi authorities later confirmed the drug smuggling allegations, saying Gizawi signed a written confession but refused to elaborate. The case of Gizawi, who has a history fighting for Egyptians who are detained in Saudi illegally, gained sympathy from everyone in Egypt and protests outside the Saudi embassy forced it to shut down. Ghonim said his apology stems from the fact that he had previously received wrong information about the case and apologized to Saudi citizens in a written note. “Like many others I was upset by the news of the arrest of Gizawi and I shared that news with others,” wrote Ghonim. “I personally apologize to my Saudi brothers, including life long friends of mine, for what some Egyptians have said that lacked courtesy and decency,” Ghonim added. Ghonim, whose activism started by co-managing the “We are all Khaled Said” Facebook page, came into the public eye following his arrest during the popular uprising that toppled the former regime last year. He later quit his job at Google, wrote a book about the Egyptian revolution and gives talks abroad on the Egyptian struggle.
