Saudi Arabia postpones blogger flogging again
Saudi Arabia has postponed for a fourth week in a row the flogging of a blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes of the whip for insulting Wahhabism, which is an extremely intolerant interpretation of Islam practiced in the oil-rich kingdom.
Raif Badawi “was not flogged” on Friday, his wife Ensaf Haidar said, adding that the reason remains unclear.
Prosecution for the 30-year-old activist began in 2008 after he co-founded the “Free Saudi Liberals” website, on which he criticized the influential Saudi clerics who preach Wahhabism.
Although his lawyers demanded a retrial, the sentence was upheld last May. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, to be carried out in 20 sessions in front of a mosque, ten years in jail, USD 266,000 in cash fine, 10-year ban on overseas travel, and 10-year ban from participating in visual, electronic and written media.
The Saudi blogger received his first 50 lashes at a square outside al-Jafali Mosque in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, located 955 kilometers (593 miles) southwest of the capital, Riyadh, on January 9. The second round of the punishment, scheduled to be carried out a week later, was suspended on health grounds.
Last week, Saudi Arabia postponed for a third straight week the flogging of Badawi.
Criticism of Wahhabi clerics is viewed as a red line as they are instrumental in supporting Riyadh’s policies.
International human rights organizations have lashed out at Saudi Arabia for failing to address the rights situation in the kingdom. They say Saudi Arabia has persistently implemented repressive policies that stifle freedom of expression, association and assembly.
MP/KA/SS
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