Saudi blogger spared flogging for second week raising hopes for release

A Saudi blogger has been spared of a scheduled flogging for the third consecutive week while the release of a fellow activist could mean that he may be freed. Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, with 50 being given every week for 20 weeks, for criticizing Saudi Arabia’s clerics in a blog. Souad al-Shammari, the woman who co-founded Badawi’s liberal blog, was pardoned Friday as part of King Salman’s latest set of royal decrees. Al-Shammari was arrested after being questioned about a series of tweets that allegedly mocked religious texts and authorities.

We are hoping that he will be pardoned just like Souad al-Shammari.

Elham Manea, a human rights activist and Badawi family spokeswoman

Badawi’s second flogging was postponed for two weeks because of doctors’ health concerns, but no reason was given for why it was postponed again this week. On Thursday, Badawi’s wife – a Canadian citizen – joined an all-party coalition of MPs on Parliament Hill in Ontario, urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene personally with the Saudis to push for his release. Ensaf Haidar said she’s worried about her husband, whose condition is worsening.

It is impossible for a human being to be able to withstand 50 lashes weekly.

Ensaf Haidar

Middle East raif badawi