Saudi blogger Raif Badawi awaits new schedule for flogging

Mark Yapching 

Convicted Saudi blogger Raif Badawi continues to await a new date for his next round of flogging.

According to CBC News, Badawi's flogging has been postponed for the ninth time since the third week of January. Amnesty International told the news agency that there was no official reason behind the postponement and that he was not checked by a medical professional.

Raif Badawi was the administrator of the Free Saudi Liberal Network. As a blogger, he produced articles that discussed Islam and issues relating to liberalism. The website allowed social and political debate on Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi government arrested Badawi in January 2012 on the charges of apostasy, insulting Islam and violations of Saudi laws on information technology. 

Badawi was sentenced in May 2014 to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for the charge of apostasy. He was to receive 50 lashes per week. He was given his first 100 lashes in early January, but the third round was postponed because of medical issues. The government doctor wanted Badawi to recover before any more flogging was carried out because he might not withstand the punishment.

The Saudi blogger's case gained the attention of several human rights advocates. In January, Princeton professor and US Commission on International Religious Freedom chairman Robert P George and six members of the Commission volunteered to take 100 lashes each for Badawi, whom he called "an advocate of religious freedom and freedom of expression in the Saudi Kingdom." 

Reports have also surfaced that Badawi may face a retrial for the charge of apostasy or renouncing Islam. However, CBC News reported that Amnesty International is still communicating with Saudi government officials to confirm the speculations of a retrial.

Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar has called on the international community to increase pressure on the Saudi government to release her husband.

"We call on the world citizens and governments not to leave Raif dragged by such bigots to death," his family said in a statement.

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/saudi.blogger.raif.badawi.awaits.new.schedule.for.flogging/50294.htm