Saudi Arabia enforces a very strict version of Islamic law that doesn’t tolerate political dissent in the least. In 2014, Saudi Arabia beheaded 83 people, the highest in 5 years. Capital offences include murder, armed robbery, rape, sodomy, trafficking drugs, practicing witchcraft, and, of course renouncing the Islamic faith.
aif Badawi’s persecution started in 2008 after he co-founded the “Free Saudi Liberals” website to discuss the role of religion in Saudi Arabia. The network declared May 7, 2012 a “day of liberalism” in the kingdom and called for an end of religion domination over public life.
In order to escape arrest, the blogger then left the country. He returned when the charges against him were dropped, but was jailed in June 2012.
In July 2013 Badawi was sentenced to 600 lashes and seven years in prison for “insulting Islam” via his online forum, Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as violating Saudi Arabia’s anti-cybercrime law.
Badawi was also charged with apostasy, which carries the death penalty in the Saudi Kingdom, but he was cleared of this crime in 2013.
Blogger’s lawyers appealed for a retrial but the charge and the sentence were upheld last May to 1,000 lashes, completed in 20 sessions in front of a mosque, ten years of imprisonment, one million riyal fine ($266,000), ten year ban on travel abroad after his release and ten year ban from participating in visual, electronic and written media after his release.
Badawi’s lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair has also been jailed for 15 years after being charged with“undermining the regime and officials”, “inciting public opinion” and “insulting the judiciary”.
“My commitment is…to reject any repression in the name of religion…a goal that we will reach in a peaceful and law-abiding way,” Raif Badawi said in an interview in 2007.
US expressed its concern over the sentence. State department spokesperson Jen Psaki addressed the Saudi officials to “cancel the brutal punishment” and review the case.
The sentence was condemned by numerous human rights groups. Amnesty International called Badawi“a prisoner of conscience who is guilty of nothing.”
“Flogging and other forms of corporal punishment are prohibited under international law, which prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Director for Amnesty International said, adding it was horrifying that such a vicious and cruel punishment should be imposed on someone who is guilty of nothing more than peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression.
“By ignoring international calls to cancel the flogging Saudi Arabia’s authorities have demonstrated an abhorrent disregard for the most basic human rights principles,” Said Boumedouha of Amnesty International said.
We can’t consider Saudis a friend.. An ally maybe.
PIG C**P ! ! ! !
Ain’t Islam grand!?
Poor man, God help him, pray for him.
Lets flog a muslum for mentioning sharlia law .
In England police officers can arrest criminals in any jurisdiction. Why is this not possible in America? Why do states have different laws when it is only one country? Seems so ridiculous.
This is the kind of society Obama wants for the United States.
Praying for you my friend.