Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a potential contender for the Nobel Peace Prize
Record ID:
1434749
Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a potential contender for the Nobel Peace Prize
- Title: Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a potential contender for the Nobel Peace Prize
- Date: 29th September 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - JANUARY 23, 2015) (REUTERS) AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS (RSF) DEMONSTRATORS GATHERED TO PROTEST AGAINST PUNISHMENT OF SAUDI BLOGGER AND ACTIVIST RAIF BADAWI PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS / SOME ARRIVING CARRYING SIGN CALLING FOR RELEASE OF IMPRISONED HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER WALID ABU AL-KHAIR POSTER READING (French): "1,000 LASHES FOR EXPRESSING HIMSELF #IAMRAIF" / DEMONSTRATORS POSTER READING (French): "#IAMRAIF" DEMONSTRATORS WITH SIGNS
- Embargoed: 13th October 2019 08:19
- Keywords: Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi Nobel Peace Prize 2019 Nobel Saudi Arabia human rights Amnesty International
- Location: PARIS AND STRASBOURG, FRANCE / OTTAWA, CANADA/ BERLIN, GERMANY / MEXICO CITY, MEXICO / LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- City: PARIS AND STRASBOURG, FRANCE / OTTAWA, CANADA/ BERLIN, GERMANY / MEXICO CITY, MEXICO / LONDON, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: Various
- Topics: Human Interest / Brights / Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001AYGB4NB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is a contender for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
Badawi was arrested in 2012 for offences including insulting Islam, cyber crime and disobeying his father, which is a crime in Saudi Arabia. He was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in jail, a fine of one million riyals ($266,000) and 1,000 lashes.
A Jeddah court handed Badawi his sentence after he criticised the Saudi clergy in a blog and called for changes in the way religion is practised in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia, the United States' top Arab ally and birthplace of Islam, follows the strict Wahhabi Sunni Muslim school and gives the clergy control over its justice system.
It does not permit the public worship of other faiths or allow them to maintain places of worship inside the country.
The first 50 of Badawi's lashes were carried out in January 2015, prompting strong criticism of the kingdom's rights record in Western countries, including its laws on political and religious expression and the status of Saudi women.
Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, and their three children live in Canada after being offered refuge there. Haidar says her husband's health worsened after the flogging and that he would not be able to survive the full punishment.
Badawi received the EU's prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2015. He was also nominated for the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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