CASE OF RAIF BADAWI IN SAUDI ARABIA

That this House is appalled that the sentence handed down last May against Saudi blogger and activist Raif Badawi, of flogging, to be administered very harshly in public, with 50 lashes scheduled once a week for 20 weeks, as well as 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of one million riyals, has been upheld by the Saudi Arabia Supreme Court; notes that no further judicial appeal is possible and that his flogging may resume on 12 June 2015; deplores this cruel and inhumane punishment which seriously injured Mr Badawi when he was given 50 lashes in January 2015 and poses a serious risk to his life; continues to strongly support his right to freedom of expression and that of all Saudi Arabian citizens; and calls on the Government to strongly condemn the use of this barbaric punishment and to press King Salman bin Abdulaziz to grant Mr Badawi clemency and allow him to join his family in Canada.