2015 Saudi Arabia: Raif Badawi
His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Ministry of the Interior
P.O.Box 2933, Airport Road,
Riyadh 11134
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Oslo, 22.01.2015
Your Excellency,
Many people in our country is deeply concerned about Raif Badawis condition, and Norwegian PEN is calling for his sentence of flogging to be overturned immediately. It violates the absolute prohibition in international law against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We reiterate PEN Internationals call for Badawi’s conviction to be quashed and for his immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of his lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence. They both suffer solely for their peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression.
In the meantime, we hope that both men will be granted all necessary medical treatment and access to their families and lawyers of their choice.
Norwegian PEN is also calling on Saudi Arabia to ratify, without reservation, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Yours sincerely
Ms Brit Bildøen
Chair of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY: The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
