DOCSLIB.ORG

Challenges of Digital Activism in Saudi Arabia: the Case of Raif Badawi

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Challenges of Digital Activism in Saudi Arabia: the Case of Raif Badawi Challenges of Digital Activism in Saudi Arabia: The case of Raif Badawi Taghreed Alshehri Abstract Newcastle University The digital world is not as a universally free space as Newcastle upon Tyne, UK we might think. For instance, expressing one’s beliefs [email protected] and calling for freedom of religions might not only be deemed as disturbing cultures, status quo, politics and religions, but also considered as a criminal offence. Thus, in this paper, I argue that the role of digital civics researchers and practitioners is more challenging as they do not only have to design and build technical solutions for activism but also to ensure activists safety when applying these solutions. Author Keywords Digital activism, social justice, freedom, social media, digitalcivics ACM Classification Keywords Paste the appropriate copyright/license statement here. ACM now K.4.1 Public Policy Issues supports three different publication options: • ACM copyright: ACM holds the copyright on the work. This is the historical approach. Introduction • License: The author(s) retain copyright, but ACM receives an exclusive publication license. • Open Access: The author(s) wish to pay for the work to be open In the past few years, more citizens have opted for the access. The additional fee must be paid to ACM. online platforms where they can be active members in This text field is large enough to hold the appropriate release statement changing their cultures and communities. Activists, in assuming it is single-spaced in Verdana 7 point font. Please do not change the size of this text box. particular, have made use of the digital world to Each submission will be assigned a unique DOI string to be included here. practice their activism online, in order to have their voices heard and to reach a wider range of audience. Although this “online activism” might have been successful in some contexts, it is not in others. The majority includes close family members to the activist digital world is not as a universally free space as we such as his father “Muhammed Badawi” who has might think. For instance, expressing one’s beliefs and appeared on social media accusing his son and his son calling for freedom of religions might not only be deemed as disturbing cultures, status quo, politics and in law “Raif’s lawyer” Waleed Abu Elkhair of being religions, but also considered as a criminal offence [8]. atheists. Thus he requested the court to divorce his In the light of this, I would like to discuss a case in daughter “Samar Badawi” from her husband, and that Saudi Arabia which represents a series of challenges resulted in divorcing her “by force”. In his account on that online activists might face when attempting to Twitter, the father tweeted “Thank God, Samar is now praise what they believe is “justice”, whereas it is not divorced from the atheist spy Waleed Abu Elkhair”[7]. in their communities. On the other hand, there is a minority of publics who advocate Raif’s call for freedom of religions, but the fear of being accused of disrespecting Islam or being Raif Badawi arrested for a minor word they might say makes it In January 2015, Raif Badawi, a Saudi online activist, challenging to disclose their identities or their views. was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and one thousand lashes[3]. This penalty was for establishing an online forum called “Saudi liberal network” where he Risks of online activism praised secularism and religious liberty, which are contradictive views to Islamic beliefs and Saudi culture. This fear of being in trouble, however, has not stopped Raif’s wife Insaf Haider, who has been given asylum in some activists who believe that disclosing their Canada with her three children, has appeared on media identities is an essential part of being an activist. calling on governments and publics to demand Raif’s Wajeeha Alhuwaider, a Saudi activist, has stated that it release [6]. She has appeared on BBC news pointing is a part of being activists to disclose our identities out that Raif had not insulted religions or mocked any even though many activists in Saudi Arabia are using politicians or religious clerics [6]. Yet, what might she, Nicknames and sometimes computer software to and Raif, think is ethical, might be unethical or even change IP addresses to avoid being tracked [5]. illegal in the culture and law under which they However, even when anonymously using digital media, expressed their view. In fact, according to Saudi law, it does not necessarily block the authority from promoting for atheism is just as criminal offence as tracking. In fact, it is common in Saudi Arabia for violent terrorism [2]. What is more interesting in this activists to be arrested by tracking their activities case, is that the majority of publics in Saudi Arabia online. This is due the to the Saudi regulations that seem to take their stance against Raif and other control online content; For instance, YouTube videos activists who are accused of disturbing culture and made in Saudi Arabia are monitored and some websites disrespecting Islam. According to a leaked YouTube and social media accounts are blocked [2]. Also, video of flogging Raif in public, people were clapping and circulating blocked content in any form is considered to seemed happy to see him flogged[4]. Surprisingly, this be a cyber crime; and all blogs, forums, chat rooms are required to obtain a license from the Ministry of Culture barriers which should be taken in consideration by and Information [2]. As a result, websites owners have digital civics researchers. to self-regulate the content added to their websites to avoid being arrested or having their websites blocked Finally, in order to support online activism, we also [2]. Therefore, it is evident that anonymity is not need to think of how to overcome cultural and political guaranteed in online world. That is due to the lack of barriers for activists, and how to help them use digital freedom in digital media which limits the freedom of media to build a rapport between their activism and the thoughts. According to Eban Moglin, freedom of social milieu they are active in. thought requires freedom of media, as he explained in FOSDOM conference Where he announced that he was working with his References colleagues on a project called “freedom box” which is a 1. Eben Moglin: does he trust twitter and facebook? . smart router that connects the user to the net without (2013). Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BptXYEIRLc. going through mediators [1]. 2. Freedom on the net: Saudi Arabia. (2014). Retrieved November 26, 2015, from This sounds quite promising, However, such a technical https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom- solution might take a decade or more to be completely net/2014/saudi-arabia developed and deployed, despite other limitations it 3. Howard, A. (2015, May 26). In Saudi Arabia, may pose. Thus it is crucial now to define free Embracing New 'Freedom' On Social Media May approaches, especially for online activism, in order to Come With Serious Risks. Www.huffingtonpost. ensure users freedom and safety. Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/26/saudi- Conclusion arabia-social-media_n_7444742.html 4. MailOnline, Simon Tomlinson for. "Flogging of Jailed So Here, The role of digital civics researchers and Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi Who Nearly Died from practitioners is more challenging as it is not only having His First round of Lashes for Insulting Islam Will Resume 'soon', Says His Wife." Mail Online. to design and build technical solutions for activism but Associated Newspapers, 28 Oct. 2015. Web. 13 also to ensure activists safety when applying these Dec. 2015. solutions. To conclude, it was evident from the 5. Mrs Wajeha Al-Huwaider's ultimate cause. (2010) previous cases, that the risks of being an online activist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYZB5VGkZ58 could be intimidating, and the cost could span from 6. Raif Badawi: Wife of Saudi blogger calls for his carrying a bad reputation to a death penalty. The case release. (2015). of Raif Badawi highlighted the limited freedom in the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz8biOSk7gY& the online world due to religious, social or political list=FLRNhveYrbjHtS-Q4WTzh4LA 7. Tweet: https://twitter.com/0k__1/status/66635048911464 4481 8. Zuzan, L. (2015). Cases of Contention: Activism, Social Media and Law in Saudi Arabia. Www.arabmediasociety. Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://www.arabmediasociety.com/?article=859 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Impending Developments and Transformations in International Law
    The Chinese Journal of Global Governance 3 (2017) 83–159 brill.com/cjgg The Clash of Architects: Impending Developments and Transformations in International Law Joel Slawotsky IDC Herzliya, Israel [email protected] Abstract The world stands at the precipice of a transitional moment in the international law writ caused by the reasonable likelihood that new architects will be joining (and eventually supplanting) the present-day architects. Transformative geo-political and economic developments such as OBOR, the AIIB, NDB and the increasing internationalization of the Yuan all herald potentially significant changes to the existing international gover- nance architecture. “Revisionist” states with strong motivations and global ambitions, may will become international law creators as these new architects influence the eco- nomic and legal orders. International law is not static and several of the new architects’ customs and norms inherently conflict with current Western ideals. Will international law norms converge? Will Western notions gravitate towards the other spectrum in enlightened self-interest? The impact on international law norms, enforcement, human rights, sustainability, trade and investment treaties and arbitration will be far-reaching. Understanding how this potential re-orientations in power will affect international law is of critical importance. Keywords global governance architecture – international law – norms The world stands at the precipice of a transitional moment for international law affecting both the creation and enforcement of international law;1 access 1 The dispute between China and the United States over the South China Sea provides an apt illustration. See Michael Martina, Greg Torode and Ben Blanchard, China scrambles © Slawotsky, Joel, 2�17 | doi 10.1163/23525207-12340025 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 Unported (CC-BY-NC 3.0) License.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia Page 1 of 18
    Saudi Arabia Page 1 of 18 Published on Freedom House (https://freedomhouse.org) Home > Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia Country: Saudi Arabia Year: 2015 Status: Not Free Total Score: 73 (0 = Best, 100 = Worst) Obstacles to Access: 15 (0 = Best, 25 = Worst) Limits on Content: 24 (0 = Best, 35 = Worst) Violations of User Rights: 34 (0 = Best, 40 = Worst) Population: 30.8 million Internet Penetration: 64 percent Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Press Freedom Status: Not Free Key Developments: https://freedomhouse.org/print/47723 12/8/2016 Saudi Arabia Page 2 of 18 June 2014–May 2015 • The Saudi television channel Rotana ordered Google to take down a video of the satirical YouTube show “Fitnah” on copyright grounds, after the show had used footage from Rotana to criticize its owner, Prince Waleed bin Talal. The video was later restored by YouTube (see Content Removal). • Human rights activists Waleed Abu al-Khair and Fowzan al-Harbi have had their prison sentences extended to 15 and 10 years, respectively, upon appeals by the public prosecutor (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Raif Badawi, who co-founded the website Saudi Arabia Liberals, had his 10-year sentence suspended and later upheld by the Supreme Court and received the first set of 50 lashes in January. He was sentenced to a total 1,000 lashes, to be carried out in public (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • During a funeral for the victims of an attack by Islamic State (IS) militants on a Shiite mosque, political activist Waleed Sulais was beaten by two men who accused him of insulting them on social networks (see Intimidation and Violence).
    [Show full text]
  • URGENT APPEAL the Case of Raif Badawi
    URGENT APPEAL The Case of Raif Badawi To the attention of: Special Procedures, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner May 1, 2019 Related mandates Arbitrary Detention Freedom of opinion and expression Freedom of peaceful assembly and of association Human rights defenders Torture Victims Name: Raif Badawi ​ Type: Individual ​ Sex: Male ​ Date of birth: 13/01/1984 ​ Nationality: Saudi Arabia ​ Affiliation or activity: Human rights-related activity ​ Submitted by Name: The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights & The Human Rights Foundation ​ Type: NGOs ​ Email: [email protected] ​ Describe the activities of the group/community, civil society or other entity: The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) is a unique international consortium of parliamentarians, scholars, jurists, human rights defenders, NGOs, and students united in the pursuit of justice, inspired by and anchored in Raoul Wallenberg’s humanitarian legacy – how one person with the compassion to care and the courage to act can confront evil, prevail, and transform history. Our Chair, the Honourable Professor Irwin Cotler, serves as Raif Badawi’s international legal counsel and has power of attorney. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies. HRF unites people in the common cause of defending human rights and promoting liberal democracy. Contact persons of the group/community, civil society or other entity: Irwin Cotler- Raoul
    [Show full text]
  • Arab Secularism's Assisted Suicide
    Arab Secularism’s Assisted Suicide A Brief History of Arab Political Discourse on Religion and the State APRIL 25, 2019 — MARK FARHA The Century Foundation | tcf.org Arab Secularism’s Assisted Suicide A Brief History of Arab Political Discourse on Religion and the State APRIL 25, 2019 — MARK FARHA Few would contest that the Arab world today is still ideological impasse. Relying on a range of Arabic primary struggling to accept, let alone institutionalize, the core pillars sources, it begins with a panoramic historical overview of of secularism and a civic state. In part, this crisis of secularism the usage of the term “madani” (meaning “civil” or “civic”) might be seen as a global phenomenon in light of the among a selection of key liberal and reformist Arab proliferation of populism tinged with communal prejudice. intellectuals, from the nineteenth century to the present.2 But while there is a global component to this problem, there The report also examines recurrent patterns in the use of are also particular regional characteristics. This report seeks “dawlah madaniyyah” as a means of either asserting or to go beyond the current crisis surrounding secularism avoiding an egalitarian, secular state in the present context as a symptom of a broader, universal failure of liberal of post-Arab-uprising states struggling with ideological and democracy and economic inequalities, and to specifically sectarian fragmentation. I explore how the concepts of the link the enfeebled state of secularism in Arab states to the civil state and citizenship have actually been used, in some region’s intellectual and political history since the nineteenth cases, to completely skirt secularism proper.
    [Show full text]
  • Houses Built on Sand Ii
    i Houses built on sand ii Series editors: Simon Mabon, Edward Wastnidge and May Darwich After the Arab Uprisings and the ensuing fragmentation of regime– society relations across the Middle East, identities and geopolitics have become increasingly contested, with serious implications for the ordering of political life at domestic, regional and international levels, best seen in conflicts in Syria and Yemen. The Middle East is the most militarised region in the world, where geopolitical factors remain predominant in shaping political dynamics. Another common feature of the regional landscape is the continued degeneration of communal relations as societal actors retreat into substate identities, while difference becomes increasingly violent, spilling out beyond state borders. The power of religion – and trans- state nature of religious views and linkages – thus provides the means for regional actors (such as Saudi Arabia and Iran) to exert influence over a number of groups across the region and beyond. This series provides space for the engagement with these ideas and the broader political, legal and theological factors to create space for an intellectual reimagining of socio- political life in the Middle East. Originating from the SEPAD project (www.sepad.org.uk), this series facilitates the reimagining of political ideas, identities and organisation across the Middle East, moving beyond the exclusionary and binary forms of identity to reveal the contingent factors that shape and order life across the region. iii Houses built on sand Violence, sectarianism and revolution in the Middle East Simon Mabon Manchester University Press iv Copyright © Simon Mabon 2020 The right of Simon Mabon to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    FREEDOM ON THE NET 2017 Saudi Arabia 2016 2017 Population: 32.3 million Not Not Internet Freedom Status Internet Penetration 2016 (ITU): 73.8 percent Free Free Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Obstacles to Access (0-25) 14 14 Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Limits on Content (0-35) 24 24 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Violations of User Rights (0-40) 34 34 TOTAL* (0-100) 72 72 Press Freedom 2017 Status: Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2016 – May 2017 • The government outlined plans to significantly increase broadband penetration by 2020 (see Availability and Ease of Access). • An online campaign to end male guardianship caught the attention of the royal court and resulted in gradual reforms (see Digital Activism). • A court increased an activist’s prison sentence for advocating for human rights online from 9 to 11 years on appeal; others were newly detained (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Public institutions lost critical data in major cyberattacks, including the civil aviation authority, a chemical company, and the labor ministry (see Technical Attacks). 1 www.freedomonthenet.org Introduction FREEDOM SAUDI ARABIA ON THE NET Obstacles to Access 2017 Introduction Availability and Ease of Access Saudi internet freedom remained restricted in 2017, despite effective digital activism for women’s Restrictions on Connectivity rights. Several human rights defenders were jailed for social media posts. Saudi Arabia unveiled its monumental “Vision 2030” reform and development targets in April 2016. ICT Market The plan included measures to increase competitiveness, foreign direct investment, and non-oil government revenue by 2030.1 The government also announced a National Transformation Program in June 2016 which included several ICT specific targets to be achieved by 2020, including increasing Regulatory Bodies fixed-line broadband penetration in densely populated areas from 44 to 80 percent, and increasing wireless broadband penetration in rural areas from 12 to 70 percent.
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    FREEDOM ON THE NET 2016 Saudi Arabia 2015 2016 Population: 31.5 million Not Not Internet Freedom Status Internet Penetration 2015 (ITU): 70 percent Free Free Social Media/ICT Apps Blocked: Yes Obstacles to Access (0-25) 15 14 Political/Social Content Blocked: Yes Limits on Content (0-35) 24 24 Bloggers/ICT Users Arrested: Yes Violations of User Rights (0-40) 34 34 TOTAL* (0-100) 73 72 Press Freedom 2016 Status: Not Free * 0=most free, 100=least free Key Developments: June 2015 – May 2016 • Internet penetration has risen on the back higher mobile broadband subscriptions (see Availability and Ease of Access). • Authorities throttled Telegram starting in January 2016 in order to prevent users from sharing images and files over the popular messaging app (seeBlocking and Filtering). • The head of Riyadh’s Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice was dismissed after public outrage over a video of committee members harassing a girl outside of a mall (see Digital Activism). • Abdulkareem al-Khadar, Abdelrahman al-Hamid, and Abdulaziz al-Sinedi were respec- tively sentenced to 10, 9 and 8 years in prison for online advocacy against human rights violations. Saudi’s Supreme Court upheld a harsh verdict against liberal blogger Raif Bad- awi in June 2015, who had earlier been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 public lashes (see Prosecutions and Detentions for Online Activities). • Mobile phone operators are now required to fingerprint customers when selling new SIM cards, limiting the ability of Saudis to use their phones anonymously (see Surveillance, Privacy, and Anonymity).
    [Show full text]
  • Saudi Arabia
    SAUDI ARABIA TIER 1 | USCIRF-RECOMMENDED COUNTRIES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN (CPC) KEY FINDINGS In 2018, while Saudi Arabia remained a country of particular harass individuals for dissent, blasphemy, and apostasy. The concern, religious freedom conditions trended positive in cer- Saudi government continued to violate the rights of Shi’a Mus- tain areas, including: Saudi senior officials no longer stated lims and non-Muslim minorities, and to advocate a doctrine of that Islam can be the only religion on the Arabian Peninsula; religious intolerance. While it began new construction in the senior leadership met with several Christian leaders, including Shi’a town of Awamiya, the Saudi government restricted the the head of the Anglican Church and a group of American observance of religious holidays by the Shi’a Muslim minority. evangelical leaders, pledging to promote interfaith dialogue After more than 15 years of incremental progress, the Saudi and the flourishing of different faith traditions as part of the government showed backsliding on improvements to its text- kingdom’s domestic reforms; Egyptian Bishop Ava Markos led books that continued to propagate intolerance and advocate the first known publicized Coptic Church Mass in Saudi Arabia’s violence against religious minorities, women, and the lesbian, history; USCIRF was granted the first-ever meeting between gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community. the head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Despite the fact that in 2018 women were given the right to Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) and a U.S. government delega- drive, the religiously justified guardianship system remained tion; religiously motivated restrictions on women driving were in place, adversely affecting the religious freedom of women lifted, and provisions of the guardianship laws treating women in the kingdom.
    [Show full text]
  • Raif Badawi and Waleed Abulkhair
    The Right to Freedom of Expression: Raif Badawi and Waleed Abulkhair “My grandfather was a Holocaust survivor and he used to take us to Speaker’s Corner. He was in awe of the freedom of speech there because he knew what it’s like not to have any… I chose to be a judge to stand between the individual and the power of the state.” (Judge Rinder, June 3rd 2017) Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has noted a global deterioration of press freedom in its 2017 World Press Freedom Index. Writers, activists, singers and poets are attacked or prosecuted and sometimes murdered for what they say in, for example Mexico, Russia, Belarus, Cambodia, Turkey, Zimbabwe, East Timor, Hungary and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia is currently ranked 168th out of 180 countries on the Index. 11 journalists and citizen journalists are currently jailed in Saudi Arabia. The cases of prisoners of conscience Raif Badawi and Waleed Abulkhair, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for making public their views about aspects of Saudi Arabian society, show why it is essential to defend this right and show the price that some courageous individuals pay for saying what they think. On 17 June 2017 Raif Badawi will have been in prison for five years and he has become an international symbol of the right of freedom of expression. It will also be Waleed’s birthday. Raif Badawi is a blogger from Saudi Arabia. He started a blog called Free Saudi Liberals, which promoted democratic debate for all.[1] Raif was imprisoned by the Saudi authorities in 2012, charged with “setting up a website that undermines general security”, “ridiculing Islamic religious figures” and “going beyond the realm of obedience”.[2] Following a further trial for ‘apostasy’, which can carry the death penalty, Raif was sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years, fined 1 million riyal (about £200,000) and ordered to receive 1,000 lashes.
    [Show full text]
  • Regime Stability in the Gulf Monarchies
    COVER Between Resilience and Revolution: Regime Stability in the Gulf Monarchies Yoel Guzansky with Miriam Goldman and Elise Steinberg Memorandum 193 Between Resilience and Revolution: Regime Stability in the Gulf Monarchies Yoel Guzansky with Miriam Goldman and Elise Steinberg Institute for National Security Studies The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), incorporating the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, was founded in 2006. The purpose of the Institute for National Security Studies is first, to conduct basic research that meets the highest academic standards on matters related to Israel’s national security as well as Middle East regional and international security affairs. Second, the Institute aims to contribute to the public debate and governmental deliberation of issues that are – or should be – at the top of Israel’s national security agenda. INSS seeks to address Israeli decision makers and policymakers, the defense establishment, public opinion makers, the academic community in Israel and abroad, and the general public. INSS publishes research that it deems worthy of public attention, while it maintains a strict policy of non-partisanship. The opinions expressed in this publication are the authors’ alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute, its trustees, boards, research staff, or the organizations and individuals that support its research. Between Resilience and Revolution: Regime Stability in the Gulf Monarchies Yoel Guzansky with Miriam Goldman and Elise Steinberg Memorandum No. 193 July 2019 בין חוסן למהפכה: יציבות המשטרים המלוכניים במפרץ יואל גוז'נסקי, עם מרים גולדמן ואליס שטיינברג Institute for National Security Studies (a public benefit company) 40 Haim Levanon Street POB 39950 Ramat Aviv Tel Aviv 6997556 Israel Tel.
    [Show full text]
  • Appeal for Clemency for Raif Badawi We Are Appealing to Your
    Appeal for Clemency for Raif Badawi We are appealing to your sense of mercy in requesting clemency for Raif and Samar Badawi. As you know, Raif Badawi has been in prison for over seven years and Samar Badawi is being detained incommunicado without charges or access to family or a lawyer. Our appeal is based on appreciation for your authority, Saudi Arabian law and the Sharia law that governs this matter. More specifically, we base our appeal on the Qur’an and the Sunna of the Prophet, which provide the source for all worldly authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Basic Regulation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Articles 1 and 7). Acts Infringing on Religious Values – the Centrality of Maslahạ Raif Badawi was sentenced for violating the cyber criminal prohibition on acts that infringe on religious values, an offence created in order to further community welfare, or Maslahạ . It is thus considered a ta’zir offence under Sharia law, with no mandated punishment. Ta’zir offences afford the worldly sovereign the absolute greatest flexibility in sentencing offenders. Similarly, once the accused has started serving the sentence, the sovereign has the discretion to pardon ta’zir offences by considering whether it furthers Maslahạ — the ultimate purpose of Sharia. Indeed, it is the supreme obligation of the worldly sovereign to protect the public interest (Al-Masalih Al-'Amma). We therefore ask that your Royal Highness look to the light of Revelation and the example of the Prophet for guidance in promoting Maslahạ in the case of Raif and Samar Badawi.
    [Show full text]
  • February 17, 2015 His Excellency Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir
    February 17, 2015 His Excellency Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir Ambassador to the United States Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Your Excellency: We are encouraged by your government’s choice to delay the flogging of Raif Badawi for a fifth week in a row, and by the decision to transfer his case again to the criminal courts for further review. We hope that this latest review will provide an opportunity to reconsider the unjust punishment that has been imposed on Mr. Badawi for the act of peaceful writing. As you know, we previously sent you a letter requesting that your government allow us to stand in for Mr. Badawi, taking 100 lashes each of the 1,000 that your government has sentenced him to receive. We reiterate what we said in that first letter: We would rather share in his victimization than stand by and watch him be cruelly tortured. Once word of our first letter became public, we received an overwhelming response from individuals around the world asking how they too could stand in for Mr. Badawi. In response to this support, we created an online petition that we append to this letter. In it, you will find signatures from more than 1,000 individuals representing 42 countries on every habitable continent in the world. These are 1,000 everyday citizens of various nations, faiths, circumstances, and beliefs. They are an incredibly diverse group but what they share in common is a strong sense of justice and compassion for their fellow human beings. Equally they share a deep dismay at the grave injustice being done to Mr.
    [Show full text]