On 7 June 2015, the Supreme Court in Riyadh ratified the heavy sentence against human rights defender and blogger Raif Badawi, according to reports received by the Monitor for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (MHRSA) and the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes, a 10-year travel ban to start on expiration of his jail sentence and a fine of one million Saudi Riyals (about US$266,600). The Royal Office had referred the sentence to the Supreme Court before 9 January 2015, when he received 50 lashes in public outside Al-Jafali mosque in Jeddah.

On 01 September 2014, the Court of Appeal in Jeddah upheld Badawi’s harsh sentence, which also includes a ban on using media outlets. The initial verdict was issued on 7 May 2014 following almost two years in detention in connection with the creation of a critical website and his calls for reforms in the Kingdom. 

Badawi is co-founder and editor of the website Liberal Saudi Network, an on-line forum created to foster political and social debate in Saudi Arabia. He has been detained since 17 June 2012 in a prison in Briman in Jeddah. For further information see previous appeals at:

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/877

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/868

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/792

https://www.gc4hr.org/news/view/728

The MHRSA and GCHR express serious concern at the ratification by the Supreme Court of the sentence against Raif Badawi, as it is solely related to his legitimate human rights activities. He is now at risk of being lashed again. This action by the Supreme Court is particularly concerning in light of the fact that Saudi Arabia is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, and should therefore uphold its human rights obligations. It is a clear attempt to punish and hinder the peaceful work of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia. 

MHRSA and GCHR urge the authorities in Saudi Arabia to immediately and unconditionally release human rights defender Raef Badawi and guarantee his physical and psychological integrity and security, in addition to freeing all other unjustly detained human rights defenders and activists in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities must guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in the Kingdom are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

The MHRSA and GCHR respectfully remind you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of reprisals. We would particularly draw your attention to Article 5 (c): “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, at the national and international levels: (c) To communicate with non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations” and to Article 6 (c): “Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: (c) To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters.”