Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey sign a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.
Trump arrives in Sharm el-Sheikh
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv
Al-Qassam: To our free prisoners: Gaza, its Resistance, have given their most precious possessions, have striven with all their might to break your chains; we pledge that your cause will remain at the top of our national priorities until you are all freed.

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi free with 10-year travel ban

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Mar 2022 17:18
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

The Saudi blogger was arrested in Jeddah in 2012.

  • x
  • Saudi blogger Raif Badawi free with 10-year travel ban
    Saudi blogger Raif Badawi free with 10-year travel ban

Raif Badawi, 38, a Saudi blogger that was jailed and sentenced to 1,000 lashes for charges of "insulting Islam" has been freed, according to his wife, Ensaf Haidar. 

"Raif called me. He is free," Ensaf Haidar told AFP from Canada, where she left to with their three children. 

Saudi authorities did not comment on Badawi's release, whose sentence ended March 1. Although he is released, the blogger still cannot travel for 10 years. It is not clear whether he will be facing other restrictions.

An interior ministry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Saturday, "The sentence handed down to Raif was 10 years in prison followed by a travel ban for the same length of time. The court ruling holds up and is final."

Badawi has been arrested since 2012, charged with "going beyond the realm of obedience."

Reporters Without Borders, an NGO that advocates for freedom of speech, said it will work to make sure Badawi can join his wife and children in Canada. 

After the first round of the 1,000 lashes, outcries against the Saudi regime stopped the sentence but the blogger remained jailed.

His first flogging in the kingdom's Jeddah square shocked the world and was described by the United Nations as "cruel and inhuman". After the outcry, he was not lashed again.

His wife, Ensaf Haidar, was at the forefront of the global campaign for Badawi's release.

International non-governmental groups and the UN continue to denounce the repression of dissenting voices and the imprisonment of activists in Saudi Arabia, despite the Kingdom's efforts to whitewash its image.

Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr

Badawi is not the only Saudi citizen to upset the Kingdom with his opinions, which led to his prosecution and sentence of torture; however, it seems as though the West has an affinity to anti-Muslim critics to fit the criteria for a media outcry. 

A Saudi critic, Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr, along with 46 other people, was executed for his criticism of the Saudi regime.

Al-Nimr was repeatedly suppressed by Saudi authorities until he was convicted following an unfair political trial at the Saudi Specialized Criminal Court (SCC).

Sheikh Al-Nimr was a vocal critic of the Saudi government and spoke loudly against political injustice and marginalization of minorities in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi authorities arrested him in 2011 for participating in protests in the Eastern Province calling for political reform.

He was then re-arrested in July 2012, after he was chased and shot in the leg. After his arrest, demonstrations took place in Al-Qatif region to demand his immediate release.

According to Amnesty International, "Saudi Arabia has long been one of the most prolific executioners in the world."

"In many death penalty cases defendants are denied access to a lawyer and in some cases, they are convicted on the basis of 'confessions' obtained under torture or other ill-treatment," Amnesty added.

  • Raif Badawi
  • Saudi Arabia

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta
Palestine

'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta

drop site
Politics

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

ap
Politics

SDF, Damascus reach preliminary deal to integrate forces

Palestinians search through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Politics

Gaza families return to ruins, searching for their loved ones

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS