Despite world condemnation and outcry,Saudi Arabia has upheld the 1000 lashes and 10 year sentence for blogger Raif Badawi who was charged with insulting Islam.The Supreme court passed agreed with the earlier judgement ..
According to Mailonline,Raif Badawi received the first 50 of the 1,000 lashes outside a mosque in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on January 9, but subsequent rounds of punishment were postponed on medical grounds.
His wife Ensaf Haidar said:
'This is a final decision that is irrevocable. This decision has shocked me.'I was optimistic that the advent of (the Muslim fasting month of) Ramadan and the arrival of a new king would bring a pardon for the prisoners of conscience, including my husband.'she said
His official crime was to insult Islam but supporters say his real offence was to criticise the country's powerful Sunni clerics.It's believed his lashings are to be carried out at a rate of 50 every Friday for the next 18 weeks.
Leaked video footage taken on a mobile phone sis believed to show the first flogging session, as a shackled and standing Mr Badawi is hit on his legs and back by a policeman with a switch.
Mr Badawi's wife has fled to Canada with their children.
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