WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – “The human rights situation in Saudi Arabia has steadily deteriorated over the year since blogger Raif Badawi was publicly flogged for exercising his right to free expression,” the release stated.
This release comes one year after Saudi Arabian dissident Raif Badawi received 50 lashes before many spectators in front of a Jeddah, Saudi Arabia mosque. Badawi previously received 1,000 lashes, 10 years in prison, and a fine of $267,000 for insulting Islam on May 7, 2014.
Amnesty International USA Senior Campaigner Jasmine Heiss said that Badawi’s family continues to be fearful of future repercussions against him.
“Raif’s family has lived in continued dread of the possibility of his next flogging,” Heiss said. “It is time for the Saudi Arabian authorities to end their long nightmare by freeing Raif.”
Over 1 million messages of support have been sent to Badawi since Amnesty International started a Write for Rights campaign for him in 2014, according to the release.
