Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, a fine of quarter of a million US dollars and prevented from travelling until 2034 for blogging about free speech.
| Raif Badawi in 2012 | |
| Born | January 13, 1984 Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Saudi Arabian |
| Occupation | Author, writer and activist |
| Known for | Blogging, apostasy charge |
| Awards | PEN Canada One Humanity Award 2014, Netizen Prize of Reporters without Borders 2014, Aikenhead Award 2015 ofScottish Secular Society, Courage Award from the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy 2015, DW Freedom of Speech Award 2015, Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression, granted by Brussels University Alliance (VUB and ULB) 2015, Press Freedom Prize 2015 fromReporters Without BordersSweden |
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose flogging sentence caused an outcry, has been awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize.
Parliament President Martin Schulz urged Saudi King Salman "to free him, so he can accept the prize".
Mr Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia for "insulting Islam".
Earlier this month he also won the Pen Pinter Prize for championing free speech.
The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought has been awarded by the European Parliament since 1988 to individuals or organisations for their contribution to the fight for human rights and democracy.
It is named after the Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov.
Flogging postponed
Mr Badawi, author of the website Free Saudi Liberals, was convicted of insulting Islam in 2012 and fined £175,000.
He received the first 50 lashes of his sentence in January, but subsequent floggings have been postponed.
In June, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court upheld the verdict despite a foreign outcry.
"This man, who is an extremely good man, an exemplary man, has had imposed on him one of the most gruesome penalties," Mr Schulz told a packed European Parliament assembly in Strasbourg, France.
"I call on the Saudi king to immediately free him. Relations depend on human rights being respected by our partners... they are not only not being respected but are being trodden underfoot."
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the European Parliament's Liberal bloc, said: "The European Parliament has sent today a strong political and humanitarian message to Saudi Arabian authorities."
Mr Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar, now living Canada with their children, said the award was a "message of hope and courage".
"I thank the European Parliament," she told AFP news agency.
Mr Badawi was one of three nominees for this year's prize along with assassinated Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov and the Venezuelan opposition movement Mesa de la Unidad Democratica.
Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, Myanmar activist Aung San Suu Kyi and Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai.
Oct 30 2015 : The Times of India (Chennai)
Jailed, flogged Saudi blogger Badawi wins EU rights prize
Kounteya Sinha
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London:
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Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, a fine of quarter of a million US dollars and prevented from travelling until 2034 for blogging about free speech, has won Europe's highest human rights award.The European parliament on Thursday announced Badawi the winner of the 2015 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. European parliament president Mar tin Schulz said Badawi was “an ex tremely and an exempla ry good man“. “I call on King of Saudi Ara execution of bia to stop the execution of this sentence, to release Badawi and allow him to travel here for the December session to receive this prize,“ Schulz added. The award ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on December 16.
Badawi was arrested on June 2012, charged for content he had posted to his website `Saudi Arabian Liberials', including an article published on Valentine's Day in which he was accused of ridiculing Saudi Arabia's religious police.
The Sakharov prize, named after Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded since 1988 to individuals or organisations who have made significant contribution to the struggle for human rights and democracy .
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
Badawi was arrested on June 2012, charged for content he had posted to his website `Saudi Arabian Liberials', including an article published on Valentine's Day in which he was accused of ridiculing Saudi Arabia's religious police.
The Sakharov prize, named after Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded since 1988 to individuals or organisations who have made significant contribution to the struggle for human rights and democracy .
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
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