RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- The sister of an Egyptian human-rights lawyer urged her country to convince Saudi Arabia to pardon her brother, who has been sentenced to flogging.
Ahmad al-Jiwazi was sentenced to 500 lashes and five years in prison for smuggling prescription drugs into Saudi Arabia, his sister, Sherine, told Gulf News. She said the flogging is scheduled for Jan. 25.
Al-Jiwazi's supporters say he was arrested because he criticized the Saudi government and King Abdullah. Saudi officials say he attempted to bring 21,380 pills into the country when he was arrested at Jeddah International Airport in April 2012.
"The Egyptian authorities have not yet taken a step to keep their promise to seek pardon for him even after a final verdict has been issued against him," Sherine said. "Every time we have raised the issue during the past two years, they would tell us to wait until the ruling is final so that they could request pardon for him."
Al-Jizawi was convicted in January 2013. A second court recently upheld his sentence.
