Despite international appeal and indignation, a Saudi Arabian blogger has ordered to be flogged 50 times in public.
The man Raif Badawi, was caned outside a mosque in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah on Friday. He is to undergo such treatment for the next 20 weeks.
According to Amnesty International Badawi, started the “Free Saudi Liberals” website, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes on charges related to accusations he insulted Islam on the online forum. He is to also pay a fine of $266,000 as ordered by a Jeddah’s Criminal Court.
“It is horrifying to think that such a vicious and cruel punishment should be imposed on someone who is guilty of nothing more than daring to create a public forum for discussion and peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression,” Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa Director, said.
“Saudi Arabian authorities must immediately halt all plans to carry out this brutal sentence,” he said.
The United States had also appealed to Saudi Arabia to cancel the sentence.
State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki, said the US was “greatly concerned.” She called the 1,000 lashes an “inhumane” response to someone exercising his right to freedom of expression and religion.
“The United States government calls on Saudi authorities to cancel this brutal punishment and to review Badawi’s case and sentence,” Psaki said.
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