Saudi Arabia has lashed a liberal blogger 50 times in public,
despite widespread international outrage and calls for
clemency from human right groups.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, said on twitter
that blogger and activist, Raif Badawi, was lashed outside a
mosque in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on Friday.
Badawi is due to undergo 50 lashes every week after Friday
prayers, which will continue for 20 weeks until his
punishment is complete.
Amnesty International says Badawi, who started the “Free
Saudi Liberals” website, was sentenced to 10 years in
prison and 1,000 lashes on charges related to accusations
he insulted Islam on the online forum.
He was also ordered by Jeddah’s Criminal Court to pay a
fine of $266,000.
“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,” Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and
North Africa Director, said.
“Saudi Arabian authorities must immediately halt all plans
to carry out this brutal sentence,” he said.
The United States had also appealed to Saudi Arabia to
cancel the sentence.
State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said the US
was “greatly concerned.” She called the 1,000 lashes an
“inhumane” response to someone exercising his right to
freedom of expression and religion.
“The United States government calls on Saudi authorities to
cancel this brutal punishment and to review Badawi’s case
and sentence,” Psaki said.
Around 14,000 people have signed an online petition calling
on Saudi’s King Abdullah to pardon Badawi.
Rights groups and activists say his case is part of a wider
clampdown on dissent throughout the kingdom. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL AND TOUCHING NIGERIAN CELEBRITIES BIOGRAPHY AND SCANDALS
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