The Saudi blogger who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" has won the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Parliament. On Thursday, November 7, the Associated Press reported that Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, announced Raif Badawi as the 2015 Sakharov Prize winner and called on King Salman of Saudi Arabia to immediately release the blogger. Schulz also described Badawi's imprisonment and flogging as a form of "torture" and urged Riyadh to align itself with European human rights standards. He stated, "He [the King of Saudi Arabia] has imposed one of the most brutal punishments on him, which can only be described as barbaric torture. I urge the Saudi King to release him immediately." Raif Badawi, a founder of the Saudi liberal internet network, was arrested three years ago on charges of cyber crimes. Like most Sunni citizens of Saudi Arabia, Badawi's internet group declared a day as "Liberalism Day" to call for an end to the influence of religion on the social lives of the people of Saudi Arabia, which led to his arrest. In the meantime, Badawi's wife and children fled to Canada. Ensaf Haidar, Badawi's wife, expressed hope that the awarding of the Sakharov Prize would lead to Badawi's release from prison, stating that the prize sends a message that gives him courage and hope. The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually to individuals who fight against oppression, tyranny, intolerance, and injustice. Nasrin Sotoudeh and Jafar Panahi from Iran are also among the previous winners of this prize.
Raif Badawi, Saudi Blogger, Wins Sakharov Human Rights Prize
Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger imprisoned for criticizing Islam, has been awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament. Martin Schulz, the Parliament's President, called for his immediate release, highlighting the brutal nature of his punishment. This event underscores ongoing human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia and the international community's response.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger, wins the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought amid calls for his release.
- European Parliament announce Raif Badawi
- Martin Schulz call for release King Salman of Saudi Arabia
- Saudi authorities arrest Raif Badawi
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The awarding of the Sakharov Prize to Badawi underscores the international condemnation of Saudi Arabia's treatment of dissidents.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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