(Cairo, August, 28, 2012) The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) expresses deep dismay and deep concern of what is happening for Egyptians abroad, especially the ruling of Saudi Arabian Authorities to
flagellate Egyptian national, Ms. Naglaa Wafa.
There is a tragedy of the Egyptian citizen Nagla Wafa, who traveled to Saudi Arabia seven years ago to work there. She sat up a project and built successful relations that reached to Royal Family. The disaster began on September 30,
2009 when she was arrested with no accusation. Although there are some newspapers that pointed that her arrest happened because of a dispute between her and a princess of the Saudi royal family. She was sentenced to five years in
prison and 500 lashes; 50 lashes weekly starting from May 2012. She suffers from curved backbone, in addition to psychological injuries which is a deliberate threat to her life.
This ruling doesn’t abide by neither the religious authority as the maximum lashing penalty in Islamic law is 100 lashes or legal authority while it is contrary with the International Convention signed by the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, such as the United Nations Convention against Torture in 1997, as well as this penalty is no longer applied except a limited number of countries.
Therefore, ECWR demands the following bodies:
- President Dr. Mohamad Morsy: to intervene to stop lasing and immediate release of Nagla Wafa and investigate in the incident in front of investigation authorities.
- Foreign Ministry: to activate the role if embassies through taking serious procedures to protect Egyptians aboard and protect their interests.
- Egyptian Embassy in Saudi Arabia: to provide full support, particularly legal and claim the Saudi government to release Ms. Wafa and demand an investigation into the incident in front of a court.
- All human rights organizations, civil society organizations, and people of conscience all over the world: to send a request to King Abdullah bins Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia for the release of Ms. Nagla Wafa and to investigate impartially into the incident for all parties.
