Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi in 2012
Born January 13, 1984
Saudi Arabia
Nationality Saudi Arabian
Occupation Author, writer and activist
Known for Blogging, apostasy charge
Religion Unknown
Awards PEN Canada One Humanity Award 2014, and Netizen Prize of Reporters without Borders 2014, and Aikenhead Award 2015 of Scottish Secular Society, and the Courage Award from the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy 2015, DW Freedom of Speech Award 2015

Raif Badawi (Arabic: رائف بدوي‎; born 13 January 1984,[1] name also transcribed as Raef Badawi[2]) is a Saudi Arabian writer and activist and the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals.

He was arrested in 2012 on a charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels and brought to court on several charges including apostasy. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes in 2013, then resentenced to 1000 lashes and ten years in prison plus a fine in 2014. The lashes were to be carried out over 20 weeks. The first 50 were administered on January 9, 2015.[3] The second set has been postponed more than twelve times.[4] The reason for the most recent postponement is unknown, but in previous weeks the lashes have been delayed due to Badawi's poor health.[5] Badawi is known to have hypertension and his health has worsened since the flogging began.[6] His wife, Ensaf Haidar, has asserted that Raif will not be able to survive it.[7]

Personal life

He married Ensaf Haidar in 2002 in Saudi Arabia. His wife and children obtained political asylum in Quebec, Canada, in 2013.[8]

He is the father of three children:

Name Sex Year of birth
Najwa Girl 2003
Terad Boy 2004
Miriyam Girl 2007

Books

Trial and sentence

On 17 June 2012, he was arrested on a charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels,[1] and in December of that year was also cited for apostasy, a conviction which carries an automatic death sentence.[10][11] Human Rights Watch stated that Badawi's website had hosted material criticizing "senior religious figures".[11] Badawi had also suggested that Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University had become "a den for terrorists."[12]

Badawi was first detained on apostasy charges in 2008, but was released after a day of questioning.[1] The government banned him from leaving the country and froze his bank accounts in 2009.[13] The family of Badawi's wife subsequently filed a court action to forcibly divorce the couple on grounds of Badawi's alleged apostasy.[1]

Following Badawi's 2012 arrest, Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience, "detained solely for peacefully exercising his right to freedom of expression". A spokesman for the group stated that, "Even in Saudi Arabia where state repression is rife, it is beyond the pale to seek the death penalty for an activist whose only 'crime' was to enable social debate online".[14] Human Rights Watch called for the government to drop the charges, stating, "The charges against him, based solely to Badawi's involvement in setting up a website for peaceful discussion about religion and religious figures, violate his right to freedom of expression".[1]

Badawi appeared before a district court in Jeddah on 17 December 2012 charged with "setting up a website that undermines general security", "ridiculing Islamic religious figures", and "going beyond the realm of obedience".[2] That judge referred Badawi to a higher court for the charge of apostasy declaring that he "could not give a verdict in a case of apostasy."[15] On 22 December, the General Court in Jeddah decided to proceed with the apostasy case.[2] The higher court refused to hear the case and referred it back to the lower court.[16]

On July 30, 2013, Saudi media reported that Raif Badawi had been sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for founding an Internet forum that "violates Islamic values and propagates liberal thought". The court also ordered the website closed.[17]

On December 26, 2013, Badawi's wife told CNN that a judge had recommended him to go before a high court for the apostasy charge which would result in a death penalty if convicted.[18] On May 7, 2014 Badawi was re-sentenced to 1000 lashes and ten years in prison. He also received a fine of 1 million riyal (equal to about $267,000).[19]

Badawi's lawyer Waleed Abulkhair (also transcribed as Abu al-Khair) has been jailed after setting up Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, a Saudi human rights organization. He is being charged for "setting up an unlicensed organization" and for "breaking allegiance with the ruler". His requests to license the organization were denied.[20] On July 7, 2014, Abulkhair was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, followed by a 15-year ban on travel. The Specialized Criminal Court in Jeddah found him guilty of "undermining the regime and officials", "inciting public opinion" and "insulting the judiciary."[21][22]

Abulkhair told the BBC that Badawi had confirmed in court that he was a Muslim but told the judge "everyone has a choice to believe or not believe".[23] A few days after a court hearing Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar started getting anonymous death threats. She fled to Canada with their three children.[24]

According to Human Rights Watch in its review of Saudi Arabia's membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council, "Over the last year Saudi authorities have harassed, investigated, prosecuted, and jailed prominent peaceful dissidents and human rights activists on vague charges based solely on their peaceful practice of basic rights, particularly the right to free expression, including Abdullah al-Hamid, Mohammed al-Bajadi, Abd al-Kareem al-Khodr, Omar al-Saeed, and Raif Badawi."[25][26] Kacem El Ghazzali spoke at the UN Human Rights Council representing the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) criticising Saudi Arabia for sentencing Raif Badawi to 7 years in jail and 600 lashes, IHEU called it a "gratuitous, violent sentence".[27][28]

"Since March 2011 the authorities have continued a relentless campaign of repression in the name of security. The authorities have cracked down on peaceful activists calling for reforms and on demonstrators protesting against human rights violations. Those who express dissent face arrest and imprisonment whether they are critics, bloggers, activists or academics. Raif Badawi is just one of many." (Amnesty International, Canada)[29]

In May 2014 it was reported that Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1000 lashes, as well as being ordered to pay a fine of 1 million riyals, for "insulting Islam".[30]

In mid-January 2015, the case was passed to the Saudi Supreme Court for review.[31][32][33]

On March 1, 2015, Badawi's wife told reporters that judges in Saudi Arabia's criminal court want to retry him for apostasy. If found guilty, he would be sentenced to death.[34][35]

Public lashing

A group protests against the flogging of Badawi outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Oslo, Norway

On January 9, 2015, Badawi was flogged 50 times before hundreds of spectators in front of a Jeddah mosque, the first in a series of 1,000 lashes to be carried out in over twenty weeks.[3] The incident was condemned by Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Said Boumedouha who said, "The flogging of Raif Badawi is a vicious act of cruelty which is prohibited under international law. By ignoring international calls to cancel the flogging Saudi Arabia’s authorities have demonstrated an abhorrent disregard for the most basic human rights principles."[36] Philip Luther, also of Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa section, said: "It is horrifying to think that such a vicious and cruel punishment should be imposed on someone who is guilty of nothing more than daring to create a public forum for discussion and peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression."[24] Anne Sainte-Marie, a spokesperson for Amnistie internationale Canada francophone and a close friend of Badawi's wife, believed that he could not survive the lashes.[37] Zeid Raad al-Hussein, UN high commissioner for human rights said flogging is, “at the very least, a form of cruel and inhuman punishment” which international human rights law prohibits. Al-Hussein, of the Jordanian royal family, appealed for the flogging to be halted and for Badawi to be pardoned, “and to urgently review this type of extraordinarily harsh penalty.” Sebastian Usher, Middle East analyst for the BBC, congratulated all those who protested on the streets, believing the protests had been effective.[38] Usher said he suspected that Saudi leaders had been unprepared for the scale of international protest that resulted from the flogging.[39]

Raif Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar said, after hearing about the flogging, “What I felt was indescribable. It was an indescribable mixture of sadness and pain... It was painfully horrible to imagine what was happening to Raif."[40] Ensaf Haidar also said, “I appreciate all the attention that Raif’s case has been getting. I hope that all the governments in the world will intensify their efforts to pressure the authorities to stop what they intend doing to my husband. I believe they can do it, if they speak directly to the government in Saudi.”[41] Polly Toynbee wrote in The Guardian, "Today [the day demonstrations over Charlie Hebdo shootings were held] another 50 lashes with the cane rain down on Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia. 'Je suis Raif' is starting to trend on social media as he faces 19 more weeks of flogging for writing his secularist blog Free Saudi Liberals. Governments that flocked to march in solidarity for free speech in Paris last Saturday have done little about this atrocity – far worse when inflicted by a state than by God-delirious terrorists acting as divine executioners. If all those leaders linking arms turned their backs on any dealings with Saudi Arabia, whose Wahbabist insanity has been sent out to infect parts of the Muslim world, they would make more than a gesture for free speech."[42] A woman at the above demonstrations held up a sign saying, "I am Raif Badawi, the Saudi journalist who was flogged," imitating the Je suis Charlie slogan.[24]

Further lashings were postponed[43] because the wounds had not healed and Badawi is in poor medical condition:[44] he is a diabetic with a weak build.[45] He was to receive the punishment 50 lashes at a time every Friday for 18 weeks till the sentence was complete.[43]

International reaction

An international campaign to free Raif Badawi, consisting of street protests, petitions, letters, and social media activity, has been steadily growing.[46][47]

Daniel Wickham wrote in the New Statesman, "[Saudi] rulers like to portray themselves as liberal and tolerant. Just two days after Raif was flogged, the Saudi ambassador to France attended the Charlie Hebdo solidarity rally in Paris, where he paid his respects to those murdered last week for exercising their right to free expression. Yet back in Saudi, the Charlie Hebdo journalists would have undoubtedly received the same – if not, worse – punishment as Raif, again, simply for expressing their opinions."[48]

Deborah Orr wrote in The Guardian, "In punishing Badawi now, the Saudis emphasise that much more obedience is expected of Muslims by Muslims than is being asked of westerners. (...) Fundamentalist terrorism, in psychological terms, surely terrorises Muslims most of all. (...) To all those who proclaim bafflement at the actions of those punishing Badawi with such gross barbarity, the answer can only be that it is being done to remind Muslims that they should fear and respect Islam. This cruelty to Badawi is a cruelty to all Muslims, who are being exhorted to fear nothing more than the temptation to start thinking for themselves." Orr also maintains the West is appeasing Saudi Arabia only because they have oil.[49]

When Badawi's second set of lashings were postponed the first time, Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International commented, "Not only does this postponement... expose the utter brutality of this punishment, it underlines its outrageous inhumanity. The notion that Raif Badawi must be allowed to heal so that he can suffer this cruel punishment again and again is macabre and outrageous." After the second postponement Said Boumedouha commented further. “Instead of continuing to torment Raif Badawi by dragging out his ordeal with repeated assessments, the authorities should publicly announce an end to his flogging and release him immediately and unconditionally. Raif Badawi is still at risk. There is no way of knowing whether the Saudi Arabian authorities will disregard the medical advice and allow the flogging to go ahead.”[43]

UK director of Amnesty International Kate Allen said, "David Cameron and his ministers should have the courage of their convictions and say – loud and clear – that Raif Badawi’s case is an absolute disgrace, that this weekly flogging should be halted and he should be freed from jail. “The crime against Saudi law which he is supposed to expiate is simply that he ran a website called, with dreadful irony, Free Saudi Liberals. On this he discussed and advocated secularism, and mocked the cruel absurdities of the Saudi religious authorities, who denounce astrologers for peddling nonsense but themselves have people executed for ‘sorcery’. There is nothing he said which could be understood as an incitement to violence, and nothing which is not obviously true and commonplace outside the squalid little dogma that suffocates the human spirit in Saudi. Beyond the barbarity of the trial, the sentence and the punishment itself, there are other lessons for the world, though not those which the Saudi authorities would wish us to draw."[41]

Amnesty also said: "Raif Badawi was flogged in public 50 times last week. He has 950 lashes and nearly a decade in prison left to serve - simply for blogging about free speech. Raif will be publicly flogged 50 times every week after Friday prayers until he has been lashed 1,000 times. Call on Saudi authorities to halt the barbaric punishment and to free this prisoner of conscience."[50] Said Boumedouha of Amnesty commented yet again, “The world’s spotlight is shining on Saudi Arabia. If authorities ignore widespread criticism and unashamedly continue with the flogging of Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia would be demonstrating contempt for international law and disregard for world opinion".[51] An online petition from Amnesty International calling for Bedawi to be released had got 733,257 by 22 January 2015.[50] The hashtag "JeSuisRaif", in imitation of Je suis Charlie, is trending.[52] The readiness of some Saudi doctors to do medical assessments prior to floggings has been questioned and this is seen as doctors taking part in acts of torture.[43]

The Los Angeles Times wrote, "It's especially hypocritical for Saudi officials, who publicly condemned the acts of violence in Paris against the Charlie Hebdo staff, to condone the brutal beating of a citizen for freely expressing his opinions."[53]

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond raised the issue with the Saudi ambassador for the UK and a spokesman for the Foreign office said, "We are seriously concerned by Raif Badawi’s case. The UK condemns the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in all circumstances."[54]

Prominent Canadian politician Marc Garneau wrote, "I am encouraged to see that, in the end, Baird directly raised Canada’s concerns about Badawi’s inhumane sentence during his meeting with the Prince [Prince Turki al‑Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the United States] in Davos. I was also relieved to learn that, for the second time in two weeks, the Saudi justice system suspended Badawi’s flogging. Officially, the decision was for medical reasons. But the wave of international indignation at this barbaric punishment, I hope, is the source of this reprieve. (...) Since Baird and Prince Turki al-Faisal will meet again in Ottawa during a visit by the Prince planned for mid‑February, I urge Baird to ask for Badawi’s unconditional release and to tell the Prince that Canada and Quebec are prepared to welcome Badawi and that he and his family can reside safely here. Even though Badawi is not a Canadian citizen, Canada has a moral responsibility toward his wife and children. My colleague Irwin Cotler, (...) Liberal critic for rights and freedom, will therefore be assisting Badawi’s wife in her efforts to save her husband. Canada’s government must use all its diplomatic resources to press for the liberation of Raif Badawi."[55]

18 Nobel laureates signed an open letter urging Saudi academics to condemn the flogging of Badawi. They hint that if Saudi academics feel they cannot promote free speech they could be marginalised internationally. Saudi authorities want their nation to be seen as a research hub and should be concerned over this. The Independent maintains many leading western scientists are uneasy about working with Saudi academics because of the inexcusable human rights situation there, these academics may refuse to work with Saudis if the open letter above is disregarded.[56]

"Whether or not Badawi will ever have to receive the rest of his 950 lashings remains uncertain, but he does have a wealth of support of many in the West, including seven activists from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom who are willing to stand in for Badawi and endure 100 lashes each," American journalist Sam Smith wrote.[57] Amnesty International told supporters, "Raif remains at risk of flogging as long as the court verdict and sentence remain in place. Thank you Amnesty supporters for keeping up the pressure!"[29] As of 29 January 2015 Badawi was again a trending topic on Twitter and Ensaf Haidar, his wife, told the BBC the family suffered "perpetual anxiety".[58] Ensaf Haidar also told an all party group of Canadian Members of Parliament urging Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene with Saudi authorities, "Raif's health condition is getting worse and worse, [She said that was the conclusion of several doctors who examined her husband in the last week] I am very concerned about him. It is impossible for a human being to be able to withstand 50 lashes weekly."[59]

Doctors at Freedom from Torture, a UK charity with experience helping torture victims, fear further floggings will probably cause permanent physical and psychological harm to Badawi. "When the cane strikes, the blood is forced from the tissues beneath... Damage to the small blood vessels and individual cells causes leakage of blood and tissue fluid into the skin and underlying tissue, increasing the tension in these areas. The more blows are inflicted on top of one another, the more chance of open wounds being caused. This is important because they are likely to be more painful and at risk of infection, which will cause further pain over a prolonged period as infection delays the wounds' healing. (...) Psychologically, flogging may cause feelings of fear, anxiety, humiliation and shame. Anticipation of the next scheduled flogging is likely to cause heightened emotions especially of fear, anxiety and difficulty sleeping... pain and fear together over a prolonged period have a deeply debilitating effect and recovery from such experiences may take considerable time." (Dr Juliet Cohen of Freedom from Torture)[60]

Philip Luther of Amnesty said, "Flogging Raif Badawi was an unspeakably cruel and shocking act by the Saudi Arabian authorities. The practice violates the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment under international law and should not be carried out under any circumstances; to do so repeatedly is likely to heighten the torment and suffering, both mental and physical, caused to the victim."[61]

After the second set of lashes was postponed for the third time on Friday 30 January with no reason given, a few sources hoped Badawi might be released.[62] Kate Allen of Amnesty UK said, "The Saudi authorities need to end this whole sadistic process and definitively announce that Raif will not be subjected to any more lashings and indeed that he'll be freed from his 10-year jail sentence. (...) The UK Government needs to do more to encourage the Saudi government to do the right thing on this case, and we're asking our new ambassador in Riyadh to ensure that Raif's case is at the top of his in-tray."[63]

On 5 February 2015 it was reported Badawi had appeared back in court the day before the next scheduled flogging. Amnesty and others again expressed concern.[64] In Quebec where Badawi's family are living as refugees the people have taken up the case strongly and protests are regular. There Badawi's struggle is seen as symbolic of the worldwide struggle for free speech.[65] The flogging was postponed a fourth time and again the postponement was announced close to the scheduled time, keeping Badawi and those concerned about him in suspense.[66]

In February, the National Assembly of Quebec unanimously passed a motion condemning Badawi's flogging and calling on the governments of Quebec and Canada to do everything possible to secure his freedom.[67]

Prince Charles brought up Raif Badawi's case with the royal family of Saudi Arabia.[68][69] Kate Allen of Amnesty said, “(...) as a man who knows the Middle East well, we hope that he will use this visit to pass on a few well-chosen words to his royal hosts. We still need the UK Government to do more on Raif’s case, but Charles’s diplomatic intercession could help to secure this man’s freedom.”[70] By the end of February 2014 the flogging had been postponed seven times in a row.[71]

On 3 March 2015, 67 members of the United States Congress sent a bipartisan letter to the king of Saudi Arabia calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience, including Raif Badawi and Waleed Abu Al-Khair.[72][73] On the same day, South African archbishop Desmond Tutu sent a letter to King Salman in support of Badawi, saying "We are all members of faiths that underscore mercy and forgiveness."[74]

On 6 March 2015, a group of Northern Ireland trade union leaders including journalists Eamonn McCann and Felicity McCall published an open letter in the Belfast Telegraph condemning the "barbaric punishment" of Raif Badawi and calling for his release.[75] On the same day, German journalist Constantin Schreiber announced that Badawi's first book would be published in April.[74][76]

In early March 2015, Ensaf Haidar petitioned Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s Minister of Economic Affairs, to use his influence to free Raif Badawi during an upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia. As of 6 March 2015, the online petition had collected over a million signatures.[77] Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a German parliamentary leader, also called on Gabriel to bring up the case during his visit.[78] As Gabriel left for Saudi Arabia on 7 March, protesters at the airport urged him to support Badawi.[79] Gabriel has said he intends to broach the subject of Badawi with the royal family. While in Riyadh he told reporters, "I think it's quite normal that people the world over are interested in something like this. And that shouldn't surprise anyone here."[80] He was also quoted as saying, "The harshness of this sentence, especially the corporal punishment, is something unimaginable for us, and of course it weighs on our relations (with Saudi Arabia)."[81] The Saudi Arabian government responded by rejecting criticism of its human rights record and asserting that "it does not accept interference in any form in its internal affairs."[82]

Sweden's foreign minister, Margot Wallström, has spoken publicly about Badawi's case and other Saudi Arabian human rights issues. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia blocked Wallström's speech at an Arab League meeting in Cairo to which she had been invited as an honorary guest.[83] Sweden then cancelled its longstanding arms agreement with Saudi Arabia.[84]

Protests and vigils outside Saudi embassies are continuing.[46][47][85][86][87][88][89]

Honors and awards

Raif Badawi is Charlie, seen during the Republican marches in Paris, 11 January 2015

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Saudi Arabia: Website Editor Facing Death Penalty". Human Rights Watch. 22 December 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 PEN International/IFEX (11 January 2013). "Prominent Saudi writer’s safety at risk after arrest". The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Saudi blogger receives first 50 lashes of sentence for 'insulting Islam'". Guardian. Associated Press in Dubai. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Raif Badawi évite le fouet pour une 11e semaine de suite". LaPresse.ca. Retrieved 27 March 2015. (French)
  5. ↑ "Saudi blogger Raif Badawi spared flogging again this week". The Globe and Mail. 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Ljundggren, David (2 February 2015). "Wife of flogged Saudi blogger Raif Badawi says his health is worsening". Reuters.
  7. ↑ Garrisi, Diana (3 February 2015). "What actually happens when you get flogged". New Statesman.
  8. ↑ "About Raif Badawi". RaifBadawi.org. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  9. ↑ "1000 Peitschenhiebe: Weil ich sage, was ich denke". Amazon.de. (German)
  10. ↑ Angus McDowall (22 December 2012). "Saudi website editor could face death for apostasy-rights group". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Saudi Arabian Blogger Could Face Death Penalty". Sky News. 23 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  12. ↑ Brian Whitaker (26 December 2013). "Saudi activist faces new execution threat". al-bab.com. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  13. ↑ "Saudi Arabia: Travel ban against blogger Mr Raif Badawi for criticising religious police". Front Line Defenders. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  14. ↑ "Saudi Arabia uses capital offence of 'apostasy' to stifle debate". Amnesty International. 24 December 2012. Archived from the original on 2 January 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  15. ↑ "Saudi rights activist faces apostasy charge". Middle East Online. 17 December 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  16. ↑ "BBC News - Raif Badawi: Court refuses to charge Saudi blogger". BBC News. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  17. ↑ "Saudi Arabian social website editor sentenced to seven years behind bars and 600 lashes.". NY Daily News. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Salma Abdelaziz, CNN (26 December 2013). "Wife: Saudi blogger recommended for apostasy trial - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Jamjoom, Mohammed (May 7, 2014). "Saudi activist sentenced to 10 years, 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam". CNN International. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Waleed Abu al-Khair: Rights Defender On Trial". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  21. ↑ Smith, Lydia (7 July 2014). "Waleed Abulkhair Given 15 Years for Activism: Who is the Influential Saudi Human Rights Lawyer?". International Business Times.
  22. ↑ "Jailed and on trial for reporting human rights violations". Reporters Without Borders. 20 June 2014.
  23. ↑ "Lash and jail for Saudi web activist Raef Badawi". BBC. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 17 July 2014. Lawyer Waleed Abu Alkhair told the BBC that Mr Badawi, a father of three, had confirmed in court that he was a Muslim but told the judge "everyone has a choice to believe or not believe."
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Nianias, Helen (15 January 2015). "Raif Badawi: Sentenced to 1000 lashes, the man who started Free Saudi Liberals website has ignited a global debate". The Independent.
  25. ↑ Jeremy Corbyn (2014-09-19). "Keeping oppression in plain view". Morning Star.
  26. ↑ "UN Human Rights Council: Adoption of the UPR Outcome of Saudi Arabia: Delivered Under Item 6 - HRC 25". Human Rights Watch. 2014-03-19.
  27. ↑ "International Humanist and Ethical Union - IHEU laments Human Rights Council member states who imprison "blasphemers"". Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  28. ↑ "IHEU representative Kacem El Ghazzali in support of Raif Badawi at the United Nations". YouTube. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Saudi Arabia: Free Blogger Sentenced to Flogging".
  30. ↑ "Saudi blogger Raif Badawi gets 10 year jail sentence". 8 May 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Saudis 'to review' flogging of blogger Raif Badawi". BBC. 16 January 2015.
  32. ↑ "Saudi Arabia publicly beheads woman in holy Mecca as blogger lashings are postponed". The Independent. 16 January 2015.
  33. ↑ "Postponement of Raif Badawi flogging on medical grounds exposes shocking brutality of punishment". Amnesty International. 16 January 2015.
  34. ↑ Rawlinson, Kevin (1 March 2015). "Saudi blogger Raif Badawi could be retried and beheaded, say his family". The Guardian.
  35. ↑ Green, Chris (1 March 2015). "Raif Badawi, the Saudi Arabian blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes, may now face the death penalty". The Independent.
  36. ↑ "Flogging of Raif Badawi in Saudi Arabia ‘vicious act of cruelty’". Amnesty International. 9 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  37. ↑ Lalonde, Michelle (10 January 2015). "Supporters fear Saudi blogger will not survive weekly public flogging". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  38. ↑ "Sebastian Usher on Twitter". Twitter. 16 January 2015.
  39. ↑ "Saudi Arabia postpones flogging of Raif Badawi again". BBC. 22 January 2015.
  40. ↑ "Pressure grows on Saudi Arabia over blogger facing second flogging". The Guardian. 15 January 2015.
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 McVeigh, Tracy; Mahmood, Mona (17 January 2015). "Saudi blogger’s wife says global pressure could force his release". The Guardian.
  42. ↑ "On Charlie Hebdo Pope Francis is using the wife-beater’s defence". The Guardian. 16 January 2015.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Black, Ian (23 January 2015). "Planned flogging of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi postponed again". The Guardian.
  44. ↑ "Close friend of Raif Badawi says he's 'not in a good condition'". BBC Radio 5. 18 January 2015.
  45. ↑ Paquin, Mali Ilse (21 January 2015). "Saudi blogger’s wife: I feel destroyed but I will not sit in a corner and cry". The Guardian.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Raif Badawi’s flogging is halted, but the protest goes on. Demonstrators outside the Saudi embassy remind Zoe Williams that this outrage is all our business". The Guardian. 23 January 2015.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Kestler-D'Amours, Jillian (4 March 2015). "Bianca Jagger joins fight to free Saudi blogger Raif Badawi: A global campaign to free Raif Badawi is growing amid concerns the father of three now risks beheading on charges of apostasy.". thestar.com.
  48. ↑ Wickham, Daniel (15 January 2015). "Why we must help to stop the public flogging of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi". New Statesman.
  49. ↑ Orr, Deborah (15 January 2015). "This cruelty to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a cruelty to all Muslims". The Guardian.
  50. ↑ 50.0 50.1 "Saudi Arabia, Free Raif Badawi". Amnesty International UK.
  51. ↑ "Saudi Arabia set to resume flogging of Raif Badawi this Friday". Amnesty International India. 15 January 2015.
  52. ↑ "FreeSpeechStories: The explosion of #JeSuis____ campaigns". BBC. 20 January 2015.
  53. ↑ "Saudis should end all plans to inflict physical torture upon blogger Raif Badawi". LA Times. 19 January 2015.
  54. ↑ "Raif Badawi: Flogging case raised with Saudi ambassador". The Independent. 22 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Opinion: Canada must use all diplomatic resources to help free Raif Badawi". Montreal Gazette. 27 January 2015.
  56. ↑ "Raif Badawi Exclusive: Nobel Laureates urge Saudi academics to condemn flogging of writer jailed for daring to criticise clerics". The Independent. 19 January 2015.
  57. ↑ "Postponement of 1,000 Lashes for Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi to Heal 'Exposes Utter Brutality' of Penalty, Says Doctor". CP World. 28 January 2015.
  58. ↑ "Beaten for blogging: #Free Speech Stories". BBC. 16 January 2015.
  59. ↑ "Raif Badawi's wife seeks Stephen Harper's help for jailed Saudi blogger". CBC. 29 January 2015.
  60. ↑ "Raif Badawi flogging outrage: More lashes will cause permanent damage, say doctors". International Business Times. 29 January 2015.
  61. ↑ "RMedical expert: Repeated floggings of Saudi Arabian blogger may cause long-term damage". Amnesty International. 29 January 2015.
  62. ↑ Banerjee, Sidhartha (30 January 2015). "Does release of Souad al-Shammari mean Raif Badawi could be freed?". Global News.
  63. ↑ Green, Chris (30 January 2015). "Raif Badawi: Saudi Arabian blogger spared lashing amid global scrutiny". The Independent.
  64. ↑ "Raif Badawi back in court, future remains uncertain". CBC News. 5 February 2015.
  65. ↑ Lalonde, Michelle (4 February 2015). "Campaign to release Saudi blogger heats up as case referred to Court of Appeal". Montreal Gazette.
  66. ↑ "Saudi blogger Raif Badawi's flogging delayed for 4th week". CBC News. 6 February 2015.
  67. ↑ "Raif Badawi: National Assembly lends support to Saudi blogger". CBC News. 11 February 2015.
  68. ↑ "Prince Charles raises blogger case with new Saudi king". BBC. 10 February 2015.
  69. ↑ "Prince Charles raises Raif Badawi case with Saudi king". The Guardian. 10 February 2015.
  70. ↑ "Raif Badawi: Prince Charles 'planning to raise case of blogger' during Saudi Arabia visit". The Independent. 8 February 2015.
  71. ↑ "Raif Badawi weekly flogging delayed for 7th week in a row". CBC News. 27 February 2015.
  72. ↑ Brekke, Kira (5 March 2015). "Members Of Congress Call On Saudi Arabia To Release Blogger Raif Badawi". The World Post.
  73. ↑ "Letter from U. S. Congress to King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud" (PDF). Amnesty International. 3 March 2015.
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 Benson, Ophelia (3 March 2015). "Desmond to Salman". Butterflies and Wheels.
  75. ↑ "Appeal to free flogged blogger from Saudi jail". Belfast Telegraph. 6 March 2015.
  76. ↑ Schreiber, Constantin (6 March 2015). "Proud to support @raif_badawi with our new book, out 1 April". Twitter.
  77. ↑ Haidar, Ensaf. "Sigmar Gabriel: Help free my husband". Avaaz. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  78. ↑ "New arms export revelations embarrass Gabriel ahead of Mid-East tour". DW. 6 March 2015.
  79. ↑ "Blogger Badawi: Gabriel wants to work for release". Panteres. 7 March 2015.
  80. ↑ "Blogger Badawi a hot topic on Gabriel's Riyadh visit". DW. 7 March 2015.
  81. ↑ "Merkel's deputy says case of blogger Raif Badawi straining Saudi-German relations". StarTribune. Associated Press. 8 March 2015.
  82. ↑ "Saudi Arabia rejects rights criticism after flogging blogger Raif Badawi". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 March 2015.
  83. ↑ "Saudi Arabia accused of blocking criticism of human rights record". The Guardian. 9 March 2015.
  84. ↑ Crouch, David (10 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia recalls ambassador to Sweden as diplomatic row deepens". The Guardian.
  85. ↑ "Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabian Blogger, May Receive Death Sentence Instead Of 1,000 Lashes". Inquisitr. 1 March 2015. The news is renewing international outcry, with protests and official condemnations of Raif Badawi’s punishments, as well as social media campaigns.
  86. ↑ "276 candidates for Nobel Peace Prize". News in English.no. 3 March 2015. Badawi’s punishment has sparked outrage around the world, including ongoing protests outside the Saudi Arabian embassy in Oslo.
  87. ↑ "Raif Badawi vigils". English PEN. 19 February 2015.
  88. ↑ "Raif Badawi tells of flogging ordeal in letter from Saudi prison". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015. Photo: Protesters outside the Saudi Arabia embassy in London.
  89. ↑ "Campaign Events". RaifBadawi.org. 10 March 2015.
  90. ↑ "DW Freedom of Speech Award for Raif Badawi". DW. 25 February 2015.
  91. ↑ "20 rights groups to bestow courage award upon Saudi blogger at Geneva Summit". Geneva Summit. 17 February 2015.
  92. ↑ "Scottish Secular Society Presents Raif Badawi with Annual Aikenhead Award". Scottish Secular Society. 3 January 2015.
  93. ↑ 93.0 93.1 93.2 Jailed Saudi Blogger Receives One Humanity Award "Jailed Saudi blogger receives PEN Canada’s One Humanity Award". PenCanada. 21 October 2014.
  94. ↑ "Reporters Without Borders: TV5Monde Prize for Press Freedom". Reporters without Borders. 5 November 2014.
  95. ↑ "The P-LIB presents the application of Liberal Arabia Freedom Award 2014". P-LIB. 29 August 2013. (Spanish)
  96. ↑ "Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 2015". Morocco World News. 2 February 2015.

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