The European Union on Tuesday formally awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to a Saudi blogger currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for insulting Muslim clerics.
Raif Badawi, who created and managed an online forum, was found guilty in 2014 of breaking Saudi Arabia’s technology laws and insulting Islam. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes on top of his jail term.
The award was presented to Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, at a ceremony at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
Badawi was announced as the 2015 recipient of the Sakharov Prize in October, with EU lawmakers choosing to honour the blogger as a symbol of the fight for freedom of speech.
“2015 #SakharovPrize awarded to @raif_badawi Deserved recognition of his role; also strong message to Saudi regime,” The Greens/European Alliance parliamentary group said in a tweeted message at the time.
Guy Verhofstadt, leader of the Liberal bloc, added: “The European Parliament has sent today a strong political and humanitarian message to Saudi Arabian authorities.”
“We urge His Majesty King Salman to release Raif Badawi from prison and in any case to end the barbaric punishment of flogging.”
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One Response
Had this journalist been as critical of the Eu on any of the many points the EU more tham deserve criticism he would be branded an ultra right-wing bigoted .