Saudi blogger given top EU rights prize

The European Union’s decision to award Raif Badawi with the prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights is “vindication” for the imprisoned Saudi blogger, a spokesperson for the family has said. Elham Manea told the Star on Thursday morning the EU’s decision was “very happy news.”

“For God’s sake, blogging is no crime. And from that perspective, that’s the signal we are taking today from this decision. It’s also a vindication for Raif Badawi and his work,” Manea said.

Badawi was honoured with the award as a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech.

Badawi is serving a 10-year sentence after being convicted of insulting Islam and breaking Saudi Arabia’s technology laws with his liberal blog. He also was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, spread over 20 instalments, and fined $266,000. The flogging has been suspended since he received 50 lashes in January, a punishment that sparked international outrage.

On Tuesday, his wife Ensaf Haidar said she was informed by a source that the Saudi authorities plan to resume her husband’s flogging. If the punishment does restart, 50 lashes would be doled out around midday on Friday.