Protests at Saudi embassy in Cairo ‘express Egyptian dignity:’ Muslim Brotherhood

Sunday, 29 April 2012

Egypt’s foreign ministry bemoaned “irresponsible actions” by protesters at the Saudi embassy and said they were at odds with “deeply rooted Egyptian-Saudi ties”. (AFP)

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By Al Arabiya with Agencies

The political branch of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), issued a statement Saturday night asking Saudi Arabia to “reconsider its decision to shut its embassy in Cairo and consulates and to recall its ambassador for consultations.”

The FJP was responding to Saudi Arabia’s decision Saturday to recall its ambassador and temporarily shut its missions in Egypt in response to protests by angry Egyptians calling for the release of a human rights lawyer Ahmed al-Gazawi detained in the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia has said he was arrested for smuggling drugs into the kingdom. Activists in Egypt, however, claim he was detained for insulting the king.

The Saudi Press Agency reported the kingdom’s decision to shut its mission was a result of the “unjustified protests” in Egypt and attempts to storm the Saudi embassy and consulates which “threatened the safety of its employees.”

The Brotherhood said the protests in front of the Saudi embassy reflected Egypt’s dignity.

“Protesters demonstrating in front of the embassy over the past few days were merely expressing the Egyptian people’s aspiration to preserve the dignity of their fellow citizens who visit, live or work in Arab countries,” it said in its statement.

“The people are voicing their conviction that insulting the dignity of Egyptians abroad is no longer tolerated, not after the peaceful revolution which restored their will, their voice and their dignity,” the statement added.

The FJP stressed that Egyptian-Saudi relations were far greater than any problem, adding that dialogue and transparency in these relations can solve any problem.

It also asked for an Egyptian team to join the investigations in Gazawi’s case.

“The FJP calls upon the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, as the de facto ruler of Egypt at present, to take concrete steps to solve the Gazawi issue in a manner which ensures Egyptians’ dignity, and at the same time preserves the strong Egyptian-Saudi relations,” the statement ended.

Government criticizes irresponsible protesters

Egypt’s ruling military sought to contain the fall-out from what it said was a surprise move by Saudi Arabia.

Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, head of the military council, called the authorities in Riyadh to “heal the rift” while the Egyptian cabinet stressed Egypt’s “love and respect” for Saudi Arabia.

Egypt’s foreign ministry bemoaned “irresponsible actions” by protesters at the embassy and said they were at odds with “deeply rooted Egyptian-Saudi ties”.

In response to a request by Tantawi to reopen the Cairo embassy and Saudi’s consulates in Suez and Alexandria, Saudi’s King Abdullah said he would look into the matter in the coming days, the Saudi news agency reported.