Saudi Arabia To Expel Longtime Egyptian Resident

July 26, 2008 7:43 a.m. EST

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - An Egyptian national living in Saudi Arabia for the past 44 years is due to be expelled from the Islamic nation despite calls from human rights groups to stop the decision.

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) said on Saturday that the move is a violation of freedom of speech.

"The decision of the Saudi authorities to expel Abdullah Al Khayat - an Egyptian who has been a resident of Saudi Arabia for 44 years - for his writings in newspapers and on the Internet is a blatant violation of freedom of opinion and expression," the pan-Arabic organization said in a press statement.

ANHRI added that the move "risks the displacement of his entire family, many of whom have been studying in Saudi universities and schools for years."

Khayat has been a resident of Saudi Arabia since 1966, when he became one of the first Egyptians to move to the oil rich nation. But when he went to renew his residence permit on July 21 he was refused a renewal and authorities in the kingdom informed him of the decision to expel him within one week.

There were no official reasons provided by the Saudi government for his expulsion, nor was there an investigation into whether he had broken any law, ANHRI reported.

"The Expulsion of Al Sheikh Abdullah Al Khayat for his newspaper and Internet writings, despite him being a legal resident for 44 years, does not only constitute a violation of freedom of opinion and expression but also reveals much about the suffering and pressure that the foreign nationals suffer from in Saudi Arabia, a state that could extend punishment for expressing their opinions even if the opinions are not related to the Saudi Kingdom," said ANHRI Executive Director Gamal Eid.

"It is an unfair an unjust decision and threatens the future of an entire family."