Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for posting a blog criticizing Saudi policies, has just been released, his wife announced on social media on Friday.
Posted at 12:24 p.m.
Updated at 12:42 p.m.
“After 10 years of detention, Raïf is free! “, indeed wrote Ensaf Haidar on Twitter at the end of the morning.
On the web, the reactions were quick. “We are happy with this extraordinary development and offer our full cooperation to Raif Badawi and Ensaf Haidar for the rest of things,” said Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, who had campaigned with Mr.me Heidar last fall, who was his party’s candidate in the last federal election in Sherbrooke.
” At last ! I keep thinking about the children who will finally find their father, ”also briefly expressed the Premier of Quebec, François Legault.
Amnesty International Canada, which has been campaigning for his release for several years, also spoke on Friday of “long-awaited news”. “Thousands of you have mobilized alongside us in the defense of Raïf Badawi for 10 years. A big thank you to everyone for your tireless support,” the organization told its members.
On June 17, 2012, Raif Badawi was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for publishing a blog discussing social issues in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Badawi could theoretically be released since the end of February. Although his prison sentence has now officially ended, the man will still face a 10-year travel ban, a ban on working in the media and a punitive fine of $335,000 which has been imposed. at the time of his conviction.
Found guilty, among other things, of insulting Islam, the blogger was also sentenced to 1,000 lashes, of which he received the first 50 in 2015. He would have escaped the others for medical reasons.