Rights group assails Saudi prison flogging

An Egyptian wedding planner and designer involved in a business dispute with a Saudi princess is being flogged in prison, human rights activists say. Nagla Wafa, 39, was accused in Saudi Arabia of cashing a check from an unnamed member of the Saudi royal family but not following through on their business deal to begin a restaurant, her family says. She was formally accused of fraud charges in 2009, 20 months after her arrest. She "has been subjected, on a weekly basis, to 50 floggings per week within the Al-Malz prison," the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said in a statement. The group called the case a "blatant violation" of human rights and filed a complaint with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Human Rights, it said. The case is a prominent example of alleged mistreatment of Egyptian nationals who move to Saudi Arabia for better job opportunities, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday. About 2 million Egyptians live and work in Saudi Arabia, and human-rights activists have repeatedly accused Saudi officials of mistreating Egyptians nationals, the newspaper said, adding that neither Egyptian nor Saudi government officials have offered comment on Wafa's case.lion Egyptians live and work in Saudi Arabia, and human-rights activists have repeatedly accused Saudi officials of mistreating Egyptians nationals, the newspaper said, adding that neither Egyptian nor Saudi government officials have offered comment on Wafa's case.tment projects witnessed by the strip every summer take part in refreshing the Palestinian economy which already has been destroyed by the occupation. Gaza inhabitants are more used to traveling locally because of the frequent closing of Rafah crossing. The bad economic conditions also prevent Palestinian people from travelling abroad. The manager of tourism sector Rizk el-Helw said that Gaza inhabitant's culture towards the tourism sector is in progress, despite the bad situation in Gaza. The manager of information sector said that his ministry worked hard to fund tourism projects in private sectors. He pointed out that there are several obstacles against tourism including the occupation which prevent equipment and tools from entering Gaza. Minister of Tourism Agha invited the world to support tourism sector in Palestine with all means of support. He appealed to all international institutions, Arab League and Unesco to support Palestine in order to end the occupation to free Palestinian tourism. Park owner Mohamed Akl said that the number of visitors could reach 40, 000 visitors and that he had to build an extension in order to receive more tourists. Economics expert Dr. Moen Ragab said that internal tourism is bringing money to its owners and to the government. He explained that the effects of investment projects are still limited as the visitors are mostly Gaza inhabitants. The expert urged the Palestinian government to establish more tourism projects in order to create jobs and which would be favourable to a good economical climate. The tourism sector in Gaza made 40 million dollars last year thanks to marine and offshore activities, resorts, parks and gardens.