It’s been reported – indirectly so far, which is to say, no English language news sources – that today Saudi Arabia changed Raif Badawi’s sentence to an even harsher one.
Amnesty International reports:
Amnesty International is calling on Saudi Arabia’s authorities to quash the outrageous sentencing today of Raif Badawi in connection with an online forum for public debate he set up and accusations that he insulted Islam.
Raif Badawi, co-founder of the “Saudi Arabian Liberals” website, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes and a fine of 1 million Saudi riyals (about US$266,631) by Jeddah’s Criminal Court.
A THOUSAND LASHES.
Not to mention ten years – 120 months, 3,560+ days – in prison.
Corporal punishment, such as flogging, violates international law, which prohibits torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Raif Badawi was first jailed in 2012 for violating Saudi Arabia’s IT law and insulting religious authorities through his online writings and hosting those of others on the “Saudi Arabian Liberals” website. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes.
Last December, an appeals court overturned his conviction and sent the case to Jeddah’s Criminal Court to be reviewed. He had initially been charged with “apostasy”, which is considered a serious crime in Saudi Arabia and carries the death penalty.
It’s a god damn outrage.
#FreeRaif
…Isn’t a thousand lashes basically just a death sentence?
*checks*
Apparently they break the lashings up into weekly sessions with “planned hospitalizations” in between. *hrk*
Bloomberg article
From another case in 2008: Slate article
He’ll probably survive the whipping only because it comes in four sessions with planned hospitalizations in between.
Oh. My. Fuck.
Hard to believe – unless one considers the pervasively pernicious influence of religion – that this is occurring in the second decade of the frigging 21st century: 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes (!!!) and a fine of 1 million Saudi riyals (about US$266,631); and for what? “Apostasy”! For setting up an online forum for a public debate on religion!
A thousand lashes! Seriously, what kind of god feels the need to employ such brutal, thuggish henchmen?
All of them?
Isn’t it beautiful that these shitheads have all the benefits of modern antibiotics in their little bubble of 13th century hell? So they can lash someone 1000 times. Glory be to god. Fuck.
WHY is our government, the US government, allies with these subhuman monsters??
Oh yeah – oil. Everything is fine because oil. No matter the details. How long can we continue this amoral, IMMORAL alliance?? Are we THAT addicted that we can compromise absolutely *ANYTHING* for oil?