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PRESS RELEASE For immediate release RAIF BADAWI: LWBC SUBMITS A WRITTEN ARGUMENT TO SAUDI ARABIA SUPREME COURT Québec, 17 August 2015 – In the case of Raif Badawi, in accordance with commitments made notably to his wife Ensaf Haidar, Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC) submitted a written argument on 15 August 2015 to the Saudi embassy in Ottawa and to the Saudi Minister of Justice on Saturday destined to the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia. LWBC wishes to contribute to the reflection of the highest Saudi court and ultimately contribute to the release of Raif Badawi and the reunion with his family in Canada. This written argument prepared by LWBC’s team with the support of the Quebec Bar, Lavery law firm, and recognized experts in the field of human rights and Islamic law demonstrates the failure by Saudi Arabia to respect its national and international obligations in three specific areas in this case: the right to a fair trial, the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and finally, the absolute prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It requests the Supreme Court to draw the appropriate conclusions in the light of these shortcomings and revoke the verdict against Mr. Badawi. The submission of this written argument comes as information brought forward last week revealed that the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia would be once again hearing the case of Raif Badawi. By way of reminder, last June, the Court, at the request of the King of Saudi Arabia, confirmed the sentence of 10 years imprisonment, 1000 lashes, a 10 year ban on travel outside Saudi territory and a fine of over 300 000 Canadian dollars imposed on Mr. Badawi for infringing on religious values. The French version of the written argument was translated in Arabic and English. About Lawyers Without Borders Canada Lawyers Without Borders Canada (LWBC) is a non-governmental international organisation based in Quebec City whose mission is to reinforce access to justice and legal representation. Information: Emmanuelle Audet-Boucher (418) 907-2607 extension 105 (438) 497-0384 (mobile) 1 de 2 To get the latest news from LWBC: Facebook www.facebook.com/asfcanada.ca Twitter www.twitter.com/ASFCanada LinkedIn www.tinyurl.com/linkedinASFC 2 de 2 .

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Congressional Record—Senate S2028
S2028 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 26, 2015 Last month, the Washington Post ran Raif’s lawyer, Waleed Abu al-Khair, a Many had hoped that new Ethiopian a powerful letter on its opinion page prominent human rights activist in his Prime Minister Hailemariam would written recently by Khadija where she own right and head of the Monitor of bring a change to his late predecessor’s states that the reason she is in prison Human Rights in Saudi Arabia, was human rights policies. is because of the regime’s corruption himself arrested and sentenced to 15 Unfortunately, last July the Ethio- and vows to continue to expose that years in prison followed by a ban on pian Government charged six bloggers corruption. Less than a week later the travel for 15 years. and three journalists—known collec- Azeri government suddenly called for a Also concerning is that his case was tively as the Zone 9 Bloggers—under a closed-door trial and found her guilty taken up by the Specialized Criminal broadly used terrorism law, despite any of criminal libel. Court in Jeddah, which was created in credible evidence be offered. To quote her piece in the Post: 2008 to deal with terrorist suspects but Sadly, these bloggers seem to have The fight between good and evil goes on, has also taken to trying human rights been arrested to narrow the already and the most important thing is that this activists on dubious charges. small space for free media expression fight should not end. If we can continue to I sent a letter to Saudi Arabia in in Ethiopia.
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