Expressing opinions against Islam has landed blogger Raif Badawi in prison and with an upheld sentence of 1,000 lashes. The outspoken and highly admired blogger was placed in custody and charged for “insulting Islam through electronic channels” in 2012. Badawi, along with his co-founder of his website, Liberal Saudi Network, were both arrested along with attorney Walid Abulkhair. The co-founder, Saud al-Shammari was released, but for reasons unknown, Badawi remained in prison.
Followers and fans of the website took to social media sparking a viral #backlash tag. Soon, millions joined the support. The Amnesty International has stepped in offering their support, but Saudi Arabia dismissed the interference of social media in its decision. The foreign ministry acknowledged the international outcry, but said they refute external information in their internal decisions.
Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar and the couple’s children have received asylum in Canada. Haidar believed with the international outcry demanding her husband’s release and new leadership in the country, her husband would be saved.
Instead, they received word his sentence would be upheld. The blogger received his first 50 lashes earlier this year. In March, Badwai penned a letter to a German magazine sharing when he was getting beaten a crowd of cheering people surrounded him, screaming “Aallahu Akbar” (God is greatest). The public whipping of the blogger produced horrid wounds, so much so, he was rushed to a prison clinic for a check-up. The lashes he was to endure once a week were delayed so his wounds could heal.
News Limited reported one witness who saw the whipping was horrified he was lashed for five minutes straight, with no break. The whip hit Badawi’s back and legs, and the blogger was bound at the hands and feet from movement.
The website was intended as a debate forum to discuss the restrictions imposed on the public life of Muslims. Shortly after the arrest of Badawi, the website was deemed illegal by a Saudi judge and shut down. While Badawi did not directly insult Islam, public officials deemed the website insulting and Badawi responsible for the content.
Badawi’s wife sits in fear, frightened for her husband who may face his continued lashes next week. Communities across the world continue to plea for the blogger’s release. Badawi felt it was a miracle he survived his first 50 lashes, and wrote to the German outlet Der Spiegel “all this cruel suffering happened to me because I expressed my opinion.”