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Saudi Arabia postpones flogging of Raif Badawi again | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Saudi Arabia has postponed the flogging of blogger Raif Badawi for the second week running, according to human rights group Amnesty International. | Saudi Arabia has postponed the flogging of blogger Raif Badawi for the second week running, according to human rights group Amnesty International. |
Amnesty said the decision was made after doctors advised against this week's 50 lashes on health grounds. | Amnesty said the decision was made after doctors advised against this week's 50 lashes on health grounds. |
Mr Badawi was sentenced last May to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" and disobedience. | Mr Badawi was sentenced last May to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" and disobedience. |
He was due to receive the lashes over 20 weeks and was given the first round on 9 January. | He was due to receive the lashes over 20 weeks and was given the first round on 9 January. |
Footage that emerged of that flogging showed the slight figure of Mr Badawi standing in a white shirt as he was beaten with a stick. | Footage that emerged of that flogging showed the slight figure of Mr Badawi standing in a white shirt as he was beaten with a stick. |
Ensaf Haider, the blogger's wife, said she was "relieved" he would not be flogged again on Friday, but said she remained concerned about his health. | Ensaf Haider, the blogger's wife, said she was "relieved" he would not be flogged again on Friday, but said she remained concerned about his health. |
The BBC's Middle East analyst Sebastian Usher says Mr Badawi's sentence provoked international outcry on a scale that Saudi leaders may not have been prepared for. | The BBC's Middle East analyst Sebastian Usher says Mr Badawi's sentence provoked international outcry on a scale that Saudi leaders may not have been prepared for. |
The question is whether the Saudis will still carry out the full punishment after this second postponement, our correspondent adds. | The question is whether the Saudis will still carry out the full punishment after this second postponement, our correspondent adds. |
Earlier this week, the BBC learned that Mr Badawi's case had been referred to the Supreme Court by the king's office. | Earlier this week, the BBC learned that Mr Badawi's case had been referred to the Supreme Court by the king's office. |
Raif Badawi | Raif Badawi |
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