Saudi, Egypt Diplomatic Crisis Deepens over Protests

Saudi Arabia has decided to recall its ambassador to Cairo and close its diplomatic missions in Egypt after protests erupted outside its embassy over the detention of an Egyptian lawyer in Jeddah.

An official spokesman, quoted by state news agency SPA, said on Saturday that the protests were “unjustified”, adding that Saudi and Egyptian employees of its diplomatic missions had been threatened.

“Hostile slogans were shouted out and the immunity of the diplomatic representations was violated, contrary to all international regulations,” the spokesman said.

The measures were decided in response to demonstrations outside the Saudi diplomatic missions in Egypt following the announcement of the arrest of Egyptian lawyer Ahmed Mohammed al-Gizawi at Jeddah International Airport on April 17.

Saudi authorities claimed Gizawi was carrying illegal drugs.

However, the Egyptian organization of Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said Gizawi was arrested after a Saudi court sentenced him in absentia to one year in prison and 20 lashes for criticizing the Saudi regime and for his activism in favor of Egyptian detainees in Saudi prisons.