Despite foreign outcry, Saudi blogger lashed in public for ‘insulting Islam’

Saudi Arabia on Friday publicly flogged a blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam, with Amnesty International condemning his punishment as a “vicious act of cruelty”. A Saudi court in September upheld a sentence of 10 years in prison as well as the flogging for Raef Badawi, who has been behind bars since June 2012. The 30-year-old received a first instalment of 50 lashes on Friday and is expected to have 20 weekly whipping sessions until his punishment is complete. Badawi is the co-founder of the now-banned Saudi Liberal Network, along with women’s rights campaigner Suad al-Shammari, who was also accused of insulting Islam and arrested last October.

This cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression has to be stopped.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom on Twitter

The blogger was made to stand with his back to onlookers as another man began flogging him, witnesses said, adding that Badawi did not make any sound or cry in pain. People who had emerged from noon prayers watched in silence and were ordered by security forces not to take any pictures on their mobile phones. London-based Amnesty International, citing witnesses, said the whole ordeal “lasted around 15 minutes” and that Badawi was shackled. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders said the punishment was “barbaric” and noted it came after Saudi Arabia condemned the assault on French magazine Charlie Hebdo that left 12 people dead. U.S. State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said the U.S. called the 1,000 lashes an “inhumane” response to someone exercising his right to freedom of expression and religion.

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