2015 Saudi-Arabia: Raif Badawi
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Lillehammer 10.06.2015
Your Majesty,
Norwegian PEN have become aware that the Saudi Supreme Court on 7 June confirmed the sentence of 10 years in prison and 1.000 lashes imposed on editor Raif Badawi. For a long time we have been deeply concerned about Badawi and his family, as well as his lawyer who is also arrested.
We urge the Saudi Arabian authorities to release Raif Badawi and his lawyer Walid Abu al-Khair immediately and unconditionally as they are being held solely for their peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression.
We also call for Raif Badawi’s sentence of flogging to be overturned immediately as it violates the absolute prohibition in international law against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In the meantime, calling for both men to be granted all necessary medical treatment and access to their families and lawyers of their choice;
Finally we are calling on Saudi Arabia to ratify, without reservation, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Yours sincerely,
Magnhild Bruheim,
Member of Writers in Prison Committee
Norwegian PEN
COPY: The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
