Boys Club | Blogger Raif Badawi Case Referred Back To Saudi Supreme Court
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The second lashing of Saudi blogger and father of three young daughters Raif Badawi has been sent back to Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court. Badawi was not flogged yesterday, based on a doctor’s assertion that it might kill him, after last week’s 50 lashes.
Given the lack of a penal code in the Saudi court system, we’re not exactly sure what this means. All are hopeful, however, for the release of Raif Badawi.
The current punishment calls for Raif Badawi to receive 1000 lashes over a period of 20 consecutive weeks, along with 10 years in prison and a fine of about $260,000. Badawi, 31, was found guilty of offences related to his blog, the Saudi Free Liberals Forum, as well as accusations that he insulted Islam.
Protests erupted worldwide and on AOC, as news of the punishment came via UK’s Amnesty International. To add insult to injury, Saudi leaders marched in Paris last Sunday in support of free speech. Thankfully, the whole world was watching the ultimate in national hypocrisy by the Saudi government!
Protests to free Raif Badawi erupted around the world in front of Saudi embassies. Ensaf Haidar, the blogger’s wife, believes that if leaders such as UK Prime Minister David Cameron and — presumably — US Secretary of State John Kerry put pressure on the Saudi government, her husband would be deported to join her in Quebec, Canada.
Haidar and their three children fled to Canada after a Saudi cleric issued a fatwa against her husband in 2011, leading to an attempt on his life. The Guardianwrites:
Haidar revealed that because of the attention the case was getting she had to tell her young children – Najwa, 11, Terad, 10, and Miriam, seven – what was happening. “Raif is all over the internet, so I wanted them to hear from their mother and not from someone they don’t know. It was very hard for them to understand. It’s a very brutal thing for children to hear and they were very sad. They had a lot of questions and they were very worried for him.”
Haidar’s own family have been forced to disown her and Badawi’s father had to appear on Saudi television to condemn his son – the Saudi authorities will punish entire families of those they see as dissidents.
Previously on Anne of Carversville:
Self Moderation & Democratic Principles Under Assault In Paris & Around the World
On this sad Friday in January, we share news that Saudi blogger Raif Badawi received the first 50 lashes of his 1000 lashes scheduled over the next 20 weeks. The world is rallying on Badawi’s behalf, but there is no evidence that we will be successful on Badawi’s behalf. Please sign the petition in our article.
Sad Day in Paris & Saudi Arabia
Launches 1000 Lashes Friday January 9, 2015 For Blogger Who ‘Insulted Islam’
Anne of Carversville has a long history of supporting women’s rights in America and internationally. We have never involved ourselves in the case of a man before, but coming on the heels of the assassinations in Paris this week in the name of Islam, we must speak up for another blogger Raif Badawi.
