“JE SUIS RAIF BADAWI”

One lone marcher was seen sporting a “Je suis Raif Badawi” sticker at last Sunday’s mass freedom rally in Paris.

By Tom Gross

Today the young Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who dared call for freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia will be publicly flogged for the second Friday in row to mark the Muslim Holy Day. The whipping takes place after Friday prayers outside a mosque in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah.

Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes with a whip, to be meted out over 20 consecutive Fridays.

His “crime” was to set up a website titled “Free Saudi Liberals” and call for democratic political reform.

The lack of punitive action by the U.S., Britain or any of Saudi Arabia’s western allies is deafening.

He has also been ordered to pay a fine of 1m Saudi riyals ($266,000), money he doesn’t have.

His case is part of a wider clampdown on dissent by the regime, and is being used as warning to anybody else calling for democracy.

“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,” said Amnesty International in a statement.

Following the sentencing and threats against them, Badawi’s wife and children have been given political asylum in Canada.

His wife says her husband’s frail body may not be able physically to withstand a second round of 50 lashes.

Update: The Saudi authorities have just announced that they have “postponed” the next 50 lashes until next Friday.