Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger who was charged with insulting Islam was sentenced to 10 years in prison and public flogging. He was hurt so badly during the first series of beatings that following ones were postponed. Recently, his family was informed that they would begin again, but not in public. CCS has requested that the conviction be overturned as he was only exercising his right of free speech and the floggings not be reinstated.
October 29, 2016
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior) 011 966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)Your Majesty:
The Committee of Concerned Scientists is an independent organization of scientists, physicians, engineers and scholars devoted to the protection and advancement of human rights and scientific freedom for colleagues all over the world.
We wrote to you on November 30, 2015, and we write again, to express our profound concern at the sentencing of blogger Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for “insulting Islam through electronic channels.” This sentence was imposed on Mr. Badawi for peacefully exercising his fundamental right to freedom of expression.The flogging portion of Raif Badawi’s sentence reportedly was to be carried out in increments of 50 lashes per week for 20 weeks. But the first round of lashings caused injuries that did not heal in time to allow for the second round a week later. The case was then referred to Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court, which upheld the full sentence. Subsequent flogging sessions have not yet occurred, but we understand that Raif’s wife has been informed that the flogging may soon be resumed.
Subjecting Raif Badawi to 50 lashes per week for a period of 20 weeks is cruel, inhuman, and degrading punishment. It violates international law and amounts to torture. As a state party to the UN Convention Against Torture, your government is obligated to prevent such torturous punishments and we strongly urge you to ensure that Raif Badawi is not subjected to any additional flogging. As a state party to the Arab Charter on Human Rights, your government is obligated to refrain from physical torture or from “cruel, inhuman, degrading treatment”, and to respect “freedom of thought, conscience and opinion”.
Raif Badawi was convicted solely for exercising rights outlined in the Arab Charter on Human Rights. Freedom of opinion and expression are also guaranteed in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We urge you, therefore, to overturn his conviction and immediately and unconditionally set Raif Badawi free. Given the suffering he has already endured, it is vital that, until he is released, he be given access to health care, as well as access to family and legal representation.
Sincerely,
Joel L. Lebowitz, Paul H. Plotz, Walter Reich,
Eugene M. Chudnovsky, Alexander GreerCo-Chairs, Committee of Concerned Scientists
Copies to:
Minister of Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Ministry of the Interior
P.O. Box 2933
Airport Road, Riyadh 11134
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 11 403 3125 (please keep trying)Minister of Justice
His Excellency Dr. Walid bin Mohammed Al Samaani
Ministry of Justice
University Street, Riyadh 11137
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Fax: 011 966 11 401 1741 | 011 966 11 402 031Ambassador Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. NW,
Washington DC 20037
Fax: 1 202 944 5983
Phone: 1 202 342 3800
Email: info@saudiembassy.net