Saudi Arabian Blogger to be Flogged 1000 Times Openly for Insulting Islam

Saudi Arabia has lashed a liberal blogger FIFTY
times in public, despite widespread international
outrage and calls for clemency from human right
groups.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, said
on twitter that blogger and activist, Raif Badawi,
was lashed outside a mosque in the Red Sea
coastal city of Jeddah on Friday.
Badawi is due to undergo 50 lashes every week
after Friday prayers, which will continue for 20
weeks until his punishment is complete.
Amnesty International says Badawi, who 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 was also ordered by Jeddah’s Criminal Court to
pay a fine of $266,000.
“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.
Around 14,000 people have signed an online petition
calling on Saudi’s King Abdullah to pardon Badawi.
Rights groups and activists say his case is part of a
wider clampdown on dissent throughout the
kingdom.