Raif Badawi

IMPRISONMENT AND 1,000 LASHES FOR A WEBSITE

In May 2014, Raif Badawi was jailed for 10 years. His sentence also included 1,000 lashes, a 10-year travel ban, and a lifetime ban from appearing on media outlets once he is released.

What was Raif’s so-called crime? Violating Saudi Arabia’s information technology law and insulting Islam through the creation of ‘Saudi Arabian Liberals,’ a website meant for social and political debate in Saudi Arabia. He is a Prisoner of Conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful expression of his beliefs.

The charges against Raif are related to articles he wrote criticizing religious authorities in Saudi Arabia, and pieces penned by others that Raif published on the Saudi Arabian Liberals’ site. The prosecution had called for him to be tried for ‘apostasy’ or abandoning his religion, which carries the death penalty.

Raif is one of many activists in Saudi Arabia persecuted for openly expressing their views online. Facebook and Twitter are incredibly popular in a country where people can’t openly voice their opinions in public. The authorities have responded to this increase in online debate by monitoring social media sites and even trying to ban applications such as Skype and WhatsApp, further stifling free expression.