Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi, born on January 13, 1984, is a prominent Saudi writer, blogger, and human rights defender, renowned for founding the website Free Saudi Liberals. His work has made him a significant figure in the fight for freedom of expression in Saudi Arabia.

In 2012, Badawi was arrested on charges of 'insulting Islam through electronic channels' and faced multiple accusations, including apostasy. His conviction in 2013 led to a harsh sentence of seven years in prison and six hundred lashes, which was later increased to ten years in prison, one thousand lashes, and a fine of one million Saudi riyals in 2014. The flogging was scheduled to occur over twenty weeks, with the first fifty lashes administered on January 9, 2015.

Despite the severe punishment, the subsequent flogging sessions were postponed numerous times, primarily due to Badawi's deteriorating health, which includes hypertension. His wife, Ensaf Haidar, who sought refuge in Canada after facing threats in Saudi Arabia, has been vocal about her husband's plight, emphasizing that he may not survive further flogging.

The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, based in Canada, has taken on Badawi's case, advocating for his release through public campaigns and diplomatic efforts. Although Badawi was reported to have been released from Dhahban Central Prison on March 11, 2022, he remains under a travel ban for ten years, preventing him from leaving the country unless a royal pardon is granted.