Raif Badawi | |
|---|---|
رائف بن محمد بدوي | |
 Badawi in 2012 | |
| Born | 13 January 1984 Khobar, Saudi Arabia |
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Occupation(s) | Author, writer and activist |
| Known for | Blogging, apostasy charge |
| Criminal charge | Insulting Islam |
| Criminal penalty | 10 years in prison; 1000 lashes; fine of SAR 1 million |
| Criminal status | Released 11 March 2022; banned from travel outside country until 2032 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Samar Badawi (sister) |
| Part of a series on |
| Liberalism |
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Raif bin Muhammad Badawi (Arabic: رائف بن محمد بدوي, also transcribed Raef bin Mohammed Badawi;[1] born 13 January 1984)[2] is a Saudi writer, dissident and activist, as well as the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals.
Badawi was arrested in 2012 on a charge of "insulting Islam through electronic channels" and brought to court on several charges, including apostasy. In 2013, he was convicted on several charges and sentenced to seven years in prison, and 600 lashes. In 2014 his sentence was increased to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, and a fine of one million Saudi riyals. The flogging was to be carried out over 20 weeks. The first 50 lashes were administered on 9 January 2015.[3] The second flogging was postponed more than twelve times.[4] The reason for the most recent postponement is unknown, but the previous scheduled floggings were delayed due to Badawi's poor health.[5] Badawi is known to have hypertension, and his health worsened after the flogging began.[6]
His wife, Ensaf Haidar, who took refuge in Canada after her life was threatened in Saudi Arabia, said that Badawi would not survive further flogging.[7] Ensaf Haidar has given a series of televised interviews about Badawi’s plight, including at the 2016 Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.[8]
The Canada-based Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights acts as Badawi's international legal counsel.[9] The organization has led both public advocacy campaigns as well as private diplomatic efforts to help secure Badawi's release from prison.
While his exact location was unknown, it was reported that Badawi was imprisoned in Dhahban Central Prison.[10] On 11 March 2022, his family reported that after 10 years Badawi was released from prison. While he is no longer in prison, his 10 years passport ban continues and he may not leave the country.[11] Al Jazeera quoted an anonymous interior ministry official as saying on March 12, "the sentence handed down to Raif was 10 years in prison followed by a travel ban for the same length of time. The court ruling holds up and is final. ... He cannot leave the kingdom for another 10 years unless a [royal] pardon is issued.”[12]
- ^ PEN International/IFEX (11 January 2013). "Prominent Saudi writer's safety at risk after arrest". The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
HRWwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
lashingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Raif Badawi évite le fouet pour une 11e semaine de suite". La Presse. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015. (in French)
- ^ "Saudi blogger Raif Badawi spared flogging again this week". The Globe and Mail. 13 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ Ljundggren, David (2 February 2015). "Wife of flogged Saudi blogger Raif Badawi says his health is worsening". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ^ Garrisi, Diana (3 February 2015). "What actually happens when you get flogged". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ^ "Tom Gross interviews Raif Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar at the Geneva Summit 2016". YouTube. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
- ^ "How Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman Can Prove He Is Sincere About His Reforms". Time. 5 April 2018. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ Aldrich, Mark (18 April 2016). "Inside Raif Badawi's Prison Cell". Goshen, US.: The Gad About Town. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Raif Badawi: Saudi blogger freed after decade in prison". BBC News. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: 10-year travel ban for freed blogger Raif Badawi". Aljazeera. 12 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.