Authorities in Saudi Arabia have again postponed a second round of 50 lashes on the blogger Raif Badawi. No reason has been given, but last...
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have again postponed a second round of 50 lashes on the blogger Raif Badawi. No reason has been given, but last week Mr Badawi was reported to be physically unfit to face the penalty after receiving the first flogging.
He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam.
Raif Badawi's punishment has caused international outcry. Last week the case was referred to the Supreme Court by the then-King Abdullah's office.
A decree by the new Saudi King Salman has pardoned what are described as "public right" prisoners, which could eventually include Mr Badawi.
A Saudi rights activist and lawyer, Suad al-Shammary, who worked with Mr Badawi on his blog, was released on Friday.
She had been held for three months without charge over comments she made on Twitter, which her opponents portrayed as anti-Islamic. Health fears
Raif Badawi, 30, was due to receive the lashes over a period of 20 weeks. The first round was carried out outside a mosque in Jeddah on 9 January as a crowd of onlookers watched.
The flogging has triggered protests outside Saudi embassies
On Thursday, human rights group Amnesty International said Mr Badawi could suffer "debilitating long-term physical and mental damage" if the flogging continues.
"Raif Badawi is a prisoner of conscience, whose only 'crime' was to set up a website for public discussion," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director.
Mr Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, told the BBC earlier this week she wished "that King Salman would issue a pardon for Raif".
"Every day I feel that I have to say something, do something because Raif might return tomorrow. I still have hope."
Mrs Haidar and her three children are currently in Canada, where they are seeking asylum.
Raif Badawi established Liberal Saudi Network, a now-closed online forum that sought to encourage debate on religious and political matters in Saudi Arabia in 2008.
In 2012, he was arrested in Jeddah and charged with "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and "going beyond the realm of obedience".
In 2013 he was cleared of apostasy, which could have carried a death sentence.
Saudi Arabia enforces a strict version of Islamic law and does not tolerate political dissent. It has some of the highest social media usage rates in the region, and has cracked down on domestic online criticism, imposing harsh punishments.
Raif Badawi's punishment has caused international outcry. Last week the case was referred to the Supreme Court by the then-King Abdullah's office.
A decree by the new Saudi King Salman has pardoned what are described as "public right" prisoners, which could eventually include Mr Badawi.
A Saudi rights activist and lawyer, Suad al-Shammary, who worked with Mr Badawi on his blog, was released on Friday.
She had been held for three months without charge over comments she made on Twitter, which her opponents portrayed as anti-Islamic. Health fears
Raif Badawi, 30, was due to receive the lashes over a period of 20 weeks. The first round was carried out outside a mosque in Jeddah on 9 January as a crowd of onlookers watched.
The flogging has triggered protests outside Saudi embassies
The flogging has triggered protests outside Saudi embassies On Thursday, human rights group Amnesty International said Mr Badawi could suffer "debilitating long-term physical and mental damage" if the flogging continues.
"Raif Badawi is a prisoner of conscience, whose only 'crime' was to set up a website for public discussion," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director.
Mr Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, told the BBC earlier this week she wished "that King Salman would issue a pardon for Raif".
"Every day I feel that I have to say something, do something because Raif might return tomorrow. I still have hope."
Mrs Haidar and her three children are currently in Canada, where they are seeking asylum.
Raif Badawi established Liberal Saudi Network, a now-closed online forum that sought to encourage debate on religious and political matters in Saudi Arabia in 2008.
In 2012, he was arrested in Jeddah and charged with "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and "going beyond the realm of obedience".
In 2013 he was cleared of apostasy, which could have carried a death sentence.
Saudi Arabia enforces a strict version of Islamic law and does not tolerate political dissent. It has some of the highest social media usage rates in the region, and has cracked down on domestic online criticism, imposing harsh punishments.
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