Saudi Arabia Closes Egyptian Embassy Following Days of Protests
- Posted on April 28, 2012 at 2:30pm by
Erica Ritz
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(The Blaze/AP) — Saudi Arabia closed its Cairo embassy Saturday and recalled its ambassador following sustained protests over a detained Egyptian human rights lawyer.
The escalation followed days of protests by hundreds of Egyptians outside the Saudi Embassy in Cairo and consulates in other cities to demand the release of Ahmed el-Gezawi. Relatives and human rights groups say he was detained for allegedly insulting the kingdom’s monarch.
Saudi authorities deny the charge and say he was arrested for trying to smuggle anti-anxiety drugs into the strict oil-rich kingdom.
Egypt’s military ruler, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, has been in touch with the Saudis to “heal the rift following the sudden decision,” the Egyptian official news agency said.
(Photo: AP)
It has been the worst diplomatic tiff between the two regional powerhouses since Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries broke off diplomatic ties with Egypt after it signed a peace deal with Israel in 1979. Diplomatic relations were restored in 1987.
El-Gezawi’s case has also revived long-standing resentment over the treatment of Egyptians working in Saudi, which is a destination for more than a million Egyptians searching for better jobs.
The lawyer flew to Jiddah on his way to perform a minor pilgrimage, called umrah, to Islam’s holy shrines in the Saudi cities of Mecca and Medina, according to his sister Shereen el-Gezawi. The fact that he was arrested on his way to perform a religious rite further inflamed Egyptian sentiment.
El-Gezawi’s family says he had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to a year in prison and 20 lashes by a Saudi court for insulting the king, but was not notified of the court’s ruling ahead of his Saudi trip. El-Gezawi had earlier filed a lawsuit in Egypt against King Abdullah over the alleged arbitrary detention of hundreds of Egyptians.
As Arab uprisings have toppled four longtime Middle Eastern rulers, Saudi Arabia has been worried about signs of rebellion within its borders. Authorities have met attempts to advocate for more rights, as el-Gezawi has done, or question the authority of the monarchy in any way with strong opposition.
Many Egyptians suspect the drug case against el-Gezawi was forced to cover up his human rights work.
Outside the Cairo embassy earlier this week, protesters chanted, “Down, down with Al-Saud!“ referring to the Saudi royal family and ”Screw you, your majesty!” in reference to King Abdullah, the aging Saudi monarch.
(Related: Trouble in Saudi Arabia Could Trigger Global Alarm Says…Glenn Beck, Er, Brian Williams)
The demonstrators called for the expulsion of the Saudi ambassador in Cairo, and some raised their shoes alongside a picture of King Abdullah, a sign of deep contempt in the Arab world. Others climbed over the walls of the embassy in Cairo. In the consulate in the port city of Suez, protesters blocked staff from leaving Thursday, prompting the military to evacuate them.
The Saudi news agency, quoting a foreign ministry official, said the protests were “unjustified” and attempts to storm the missions threatened the safety of diplomatic staff, in a violation of international conventions. The protests, the official statement said, were a violation of the “sanctity and sovereignty of diplomatic missions.”
The diplomatic dispute has also underscored the inherent tensions in the region between Gulf Arab states and Egypt since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak last year in the face of popular protests.
At one point, the Egyptian government said Arab donors have been reluctant to come up with promised money to help the local economy as it suffers following the uprising.
Gulf nations, led by Saudi Arabia, remained publicly supportive of Mubarak even as Western allies called for him to step down. His downfall – and the swift policy shifts in Washington and elsewhere – deeply stunned the Gulf monarchs and sheiks who considered Western backing as an unshakable pillar for their regimes. In response, Gulf states have increasingly banded together to try to stamp out Arab Spring-inspired opposition and build independent strategies to control key regional rival Iran.
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nosharia
Posted on April 29, 2012 at 3:32pmEgypt is now in the hands of the muslim brotherhood. I hope NOBODY sends them money. Let them learn to be self sustaining.
Report Post »Grace1798
Posted on April 29, 2012 at 1:30pmNot to worry……….Obama will give them 200 Mil of taxpayer dollars to make them happy. Obama is friends to every enemy of USA and hates our allies.
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:37pmThe Saudis will support the Saudis in the end. This does NOT necessarily mean the rest of The Middle East…per sey.
Report Post »READRIGHTHERE
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:35pmIt is becoming increasingly apparent that we can not pursue peaceful relations with any of these countries.
We need to pull every penny of ours out of their economies, and let them fight amongst themselves without our intervention or advice, and then deal with what gets left over. No more money, no more trade, no sales, no purchases, no flights, no communications. Stand by our ally Israel and let the rest figure it out on their own. Evey penny we send in whatever direction we send it means the shedding of blood. We need to be guiltless of supporting regimes, and monarchies, and dictators. We need to be all the way out.
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:10pmIn the 9-11 report, Saudi Arabian text was blackened out. I don’t trust the Saudis…in the end they will support Esau’s mantra; kill all jews because they stole our ‘precious’ and kill ALL infidels.
Report Post »Fubared
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 8:37pmThey just need a big old Twister game and 50 gallons of crisco to sort it all out. No women of course, and get the Rainbow coalition over there warming the crisco, stat.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 8:07pmUncivilized stupid savages occupy the middle east and they are stupid and worthless which is why there countries are trash. all they want to do is pray 5 times a day and live off oil welfare money.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 7:46pmmuslum MURDERING MUSLUMS will never end…how long before they KILL thier own kind???… not long watch n learn
Report Post »TheMoMary
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 4:38pmIt takes about 10 minutes to register.
We only have 9 days to get him on the ballot, He only needs around 1550 more
google in Americans Elect
If Ron Paul gets 10,000 signatures, than he will be placed on the ballot.
Please lets give him a push.
Report Post »trueamerican40
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 9:06pmNo thanks!
Report Post »BRAVEATHEART
Posted on April 29, 2012 at 2:06amAs Ralph Nader was to Al Gore, Ron Paul could be to Mitt Romney. Wake up! Your vote for Ron Paul is a vote for Obama. Why can’t you see that?
Report Post »justangry
Posted on April 29, 2012 at 6:59amToo obvious. I’m trying to figure out if this is QPWILLY or REPUBLICORP. Stoners don‘t care if RP is president because they’re already smoking weed. They aren’t politically active because they have a hard time getting off the couch. The last stoner I talked with hated Ron Paul and liked Rick Santorum. Get it?… STONERS don‘t know what’s going on. Besides, ever know a Paul supporter that doesn’t get the last word in?
Oh and Braveheart, my vote for RP is a vote against the one party system that pretends it is a two party system. You say there‘s a difference between the D’s and R’s… I don’t see it.
Report Post »AxelPhantom
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 3:37pmThe Caliphate cannot come about as long as the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia retains power.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 4:17pmUnless… New Royal Titles are Bestowed by the Caliph!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 3:08pmThe Saudi… are Arab Muslims… who fought the Turkish, Caliphate, Muslims… and who oppose the Iranian Muslims… yet, they all want to destroy Christians & Jews.
It is the Cult of Hate!
Report Post »taxpro4u03
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 5:40pmGoes deeper than that — kinda like the 35,000 variations of ‘christianity’ – da Pope be ‘head honcho’ (so he thinks) in the ‘christian kingdom’ – as demonstrated by acts of it‘s ’cruel and unusual‘ treatment historically of those who didn’t conscribe to its ‘doctrines’ — from the 1st council at nicea all the way thru the American civil war (pope sided with jeffy davis btw — not ‘formerly’ as in papel bull – but they both understood what it meant for Uncle Abe to ‘win’) — Here in the ME — you have sunnis and shiites vying for ‘king of the mountain.’ — been that way for the past 1400 years at LEAST — THIS is about another ‘dictator’ in the way… :-)
Report Post »lbyrd26
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 7:05pmlukerw- I don’t agree with some of the things you say (I do Respect your thoughts, though) but this time you are spot on, in my opinion. Lets not forget that the Muslims have been at a religeous war with each other for centuries. I was in Lebanon in ‘83, ‘84 (Marines) and it was like looking back in American history. If you were this Muslim, you couldn’t enter her, if you were that Muslim, you could. They identify each jother by the towels (I can’t remember what they are called-sorry) on their head. Sometimes we let liberals define history for us and we can’t forget that the Christian Wars were called so because they are the ones who won. The evil christians were only about 1/3 of the known world at that time and got tired of being killed because of Muslim faith. They stood up for themselves and have been persecuted for it since. They have enough strange history that is accurate, to be spreading those kind of lies but people do. Sorry I got so heavy on your post but there was a lot of factually incorrect postings on here and I just wanted to sum some of the real facts up. Thanks for your post.
Report Post »Seagal45
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 2:48pmI wonder how the regular people will like the results of their “glorious” Arab Spring. It’s all down hill from here gang.
Report Post »taxpro4u03
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:01pmThat remains to be seen — HISTORICALLY, since ‘biblical’ times – the Hyksos (hebrew shepherd kings – aka TRUE JEWS) got booted out of egypt after a 100yr rule (Exodus) – changed a few names and re-infiltrated the ‘throne of egypt’ up thru the ptolomey kings (Cleopatra ring a bell?) — Roman julius caesar (codified as ‘god’ by his own senate, just like his girlfriend and THEIR son, CAESARIAN were ‘codifed’ co-gods’ during her jubilee) – then you have the jesus story (historical records versus the biblical writings –put them side by side!!) -We know caesar was offed – mark antony (a caesarian general) and cleopatra were ‘usurped’ and Caesarian ‘sacrificed’ (he was next in line for the throne, see) – Either way… that’s what this is about, more or less. The Khazarian CONVERT jews are the ones the world has been picking on – some call ‘em ’zionists’ — whatever — suprised the Beckmeister hasn‘t gotten to his ’truth’ on “religion” yet — Jefferson was a DIEST (not an athiest — but creator-god – without the mythical stories) – but then again – Joseph Smith was a ‘prophet,’ too… just sayin. reason wisdom and LOGIC. the historical record is all there…..
Report Post »momrules
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 2:43pmThe Middle East is a powder keg, it is going to blow soon and that explosion will be heard around the world.
Report Post »There are Muslims all over the world waiting and ready to help in that great explosive fit of anger, revenge and jihad. America is full of them.
taxpro4u03
Posted on April 28, 2012 at 6:19pmLet’s ALSO not forget this year is, I believe, Queen Elizabeth’s DIAMOND (60years?) jubilee — HER ‘kingdom’ and all her ‘colonies’ are sed to be those same Hyksos descendants the islamic world is pist off at. She REIGNS, but does not RULE. Been real ‘quite’ as we watch the Brotherhood attempt their lil ‘caliphate’ on a global scale — wonder why that is — perhaps Glenn can ‘enlighten’ us?… ;-) — Don’t THINK for one second The Pope, the Queen and her ‘prime ministers’ aren’t aware of this move — ‘follow the money and resources…’ This is NOT about lil peon corp usa….. (the queen’s military leg) lil peon London (her financial leg) and Vatican City (her ‘religious’ leg) – “a two legged stool cannot stand” — or something like that Uncle Abe uttered when he sed ‘a house divided cannot stand’ — where you think THAT came from?? “When in Rome…” GOD knows your heart. And that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?
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