Saudi Arabia: Le Canada mobilisé en faveur du blogueur séoudien Raif Badawi

le 8 juillet, 2017

«Circulez il n’y a rien à voir » c’est en substance ce que vient de déclarer à Ottawa l’Ambassadeur d’Arabie Saoudite à propos du dossier du blogueur saoudien Raif Badawi. La femme de ce dernier et ses trois enfants trois enfants ont obtenu l’asile politique au Canada et résident à Sherbrooke au Québec, a été condamné par la justice saoudienne en 2012. 10 ans de prison, 1000 coups de fouet et près de 200 000 € d’amende pour avoir réclamé sur son blog une plus grande tolérance envers les non musulmans et une plus grande ouverture d’esprit dans le royaume. Le jugement précisait : apostasie et insulte à l’islam.

Mobilisation internationale

La première séance de flagellation a eu lieu en public devant une mosquée de Djeddah. Par la suite les autres séances ont été interrompues pour « raison médicale » à la suite d’une intense mobilisation internationale et de l’ONU. L’impression générale était que le dossier Badawi était gelé et que l’on attendait à Ryad un moment propice pour le libérer. Pourtant, selon des indications déjà ancienne, on a prêté au Royaume saoudien l’intention d’entreprendre une nouvelle action en justice pour apostasie avec à la clef la possibilité d’une condamnation à mort. Et puis de nouveau le silence…

Depuis le début de sa détention et en dehors de l’intervention des états, le blogueur saoudien a reçu de très nombreux prix récompensant les défenseurs des droits de l’homme notamment le prix Sakharov en 2015. Il a été également proposé la même année pour le prix Nobel de la Paix.L’avocat de Raif Badawi, Waleed Abu al-Khair, militant des droits de l’homme également, a pour l’occasion écopé de 15 ans de prison à son tour.

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http://mondafrique.com/canada-mobilise-faveur-blogeur-seoudien-raif-badawi/

Saudi Arabia: Free imprisoned human rights lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair now!

July 6, 2017

Today marks 3 years since the Saudi Arabian anti-terrorism court sentenced human rights lawyer Waleed Abulkhair to 15 years in prison for “inciting public opinion” and “harming the reputation of the Kingdom.” He is languishing in prison today because he spoke out against the oppression and injustice of the Saudi dictatorial regime and called for political reform so he and his fellow citizens can live in freedom.

Take action and call for his release by contacting the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the U.N.: usmis@mofa.gov.sa

Learn more at

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/waleed-abulkhair-sits-in-a-saudi-jail-for-speaking-out/2016/07/11/185a0934-479e-11e6-bdb9-701687974517_story.html?utm_term=.8b166b1a5347

(Human Rights Foundation (HRF) Facebook)

Saudi Arabia: 1,000 Lashes For Raif Badawi

June 16, 2017

Every Friday morning, a small group of us, sometimes three, sometimes five, hold a vigil outside the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. We’re the most genteel and well-behaved protestors anyone could want, yet the embassy always posts a guard behind the railings, watching and monitoring us.

As they must be watching and monitoring vigils across the world every Friday morning. Because we’re not the only ones outraged by a barbaric, medieval sentence on a man who merely used peaceful words.

Five years ago, on 17th June 2012 Raif Badawi was arrested by the Saudi Arabian authorities, for allegedly “insulting Islam through electronic channels”. Raif had taken to his keyboard and set up a liberal website. An action which would have gone completely unremarked in this country and many others.

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It will also mark the birthday of Waleed Abu Al-Khair.

Waleed is also in prison in Saudi Arabia, a lawyer who represented Raif Badawi in court, and who happens to be Raif Badawi’s brother-in-law. A man who’s spent his life fighting the abuse of human rights in Saudi Arabia. It appears the kingdom took its revenge by convicting him on charges including ‘striving to overthrow the state and the authority of the King’; ‘criticising and insulting the judiciary’; ‘assembling international organisations against the Kingdom’; and ‘inciting public opinion’. After all Waleed is a man who’s won the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize; been awarded the Swiss Freethinker Prize and been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This is the 4th year Waleed will be spending a birthday in prison.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/ravinder-randhawa/raif-badawi_b_17148428.html

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/06/saudi-arabia-release-blogger-raif-badawi-still-behind-bars-after-five-years/

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/tippling/2017/06/17/another-call-release-raif-badawi/

https://theferret.scot/saudi-blogger-raif-badawi-deteriorating-five-years-prison/

http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/evelyne-abitbol-/emprisonnement-raif-badawi_b_17121574.html (FRANCAIS)

https://www.amnesty.fr/presse/arabie-saoudite-il-faut-librer-le-blogueur-raif-ba (FRANCAIS)

http://quebec.huffingtonpost.ca/evelyne-abitbol-/emprisonnement-raif-badawi_b_17121574.html (FRANCAIS)

https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2017/06/saudi-arabia-release-blogger-raif-badawi-still-behind-bars-after-five-years/ (ESPANOL)

Saudi Arabia: FREE WALEED

Waleed Abulkhair, a Saudi Arabian human rights lawyer, was imprisoned for signing a petition calling for democracy, and for criticizing the Saudi Arabian government on news outlets and on Twitter. Now you have the chance to take action on Waleed’s behalf.

Freedom of Expression in Saudi Arabia

Freedom of expression is the right to share your thoughts and opinions, as well as the right to receive information from any source you choose. This means that you can criticize anyone, whether that’s the president, a neighbor, or anyone you disagree with. You can watch any TV show, read any books and newspapers, and access any websites you want.

However, while most governments have the power to limit freedom of expression, non-democracies often abuse this power. One way they do so is by imprisoning people who speak out against the government; another way to limit freedom of expression is by controlling the media. They do this by blocking websites, shutting down news outlets and social media sites, and harassing journalists and activists.

Saudi Arabia is ruled by a king who can create whatever laws he wants at any time. The royal family has complete control over most media outlets, and Saudi citizens are often imprisoned for criticizing the king, religion, or politics. HRF’s Free Speech Unlimited project lists Saudi Arabia among the worst offenders when it comes to prohibiting free speech.

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https://www.hrf.org/freewaleed

https://humanrightsfoundation.typeform.com/to/qQy2MC (PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION!)

https://humanrightsfoundation.typeform.com/to/TE9TDc (SIGNEZ LA PETITION SVP!)

https://medium.com/@HRF_79941/freewaleed-a-human-rights-lawyer-jailed-for-speaking-out-e0707f2fd94f

https://ciluna27.wordpress.com/2016/12/10/human-rights-lawyer-in-jail-dr-mohammed-al-roken-waleed-abukhair-and-abdolfattah-soltani/

Saudi Arabia: Free Imprisoned Human Rights Lawyer Waleed Abu Al-Khair Immediately!

March 29, 2017

#WaleedWednesday should be with together with his family & not be in prison #FreeWaleed immediately

(Marco Tombesi Facebook)

Saudi Arabia/Canada: Two exceptional human rights defenders honoured by Law Society

February 23, 2017

The Law Society of Upper Canada honoured two exceptional human rights advocates last night at Osgoode Hall.

Human rights defenders Waleed Abu al-Khair and Cindy Blackstock, PhD, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of human rights and the promotion of the rule of law provincially, nationally and internationally.

“We are extremely pleased to honour Dr. Blackstock and Mr. Abu al-Khair, both of whom have shown remarkable courage and conviction in their tireless efforts to promote human rights, said Law Society Treasurer Paul B. Schabas at the evening ceremony. “Through Dr. Blackstock’s efforts to address systemic discrimination of First Nations children, she has made a significant and lasting contribution that will have a powerful impact on generations of First Nations children,” he said. “Mr. Abu al-Khair has sacrificed a great deal. In honouring him with the Law Society’s Human Rights Award, we say to him, and to others like him, your sacrifice does not go unrecognized,” said Treasurer Schabas.

Recipient Waleed Abu al-Khair, 37, has been arbitrarily imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since April 15, 2014. He is a prominent human rights lawyer and activist and is the founder of the organization the Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia. He has worked tirelessly to defend human rights and the rule of law for all — in the face of extreme adversity and at the cost of his own freedom. Gail Davidson, Executive Director of Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada, accepted the award on his behalf.

“Waleed began practising law in 2007 and since then he has used the written and spoken word coupled with his legal knowledge, to fearlessly advocate for reforms to improve the lives of all in Saudi Arabia by calling on the government to allow its citizens to enjoy internationally protected rights such as rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly and the right to participate in public affairs. He has also advocated passionately for the equal rights of women and on behalf of prisoners of conscience,” Davidson said.

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http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/two-exceptional-human-rights-defenders-honoured-by-law-society-614639784.html

http://www.lawsocietygazette.ca/news/extraordinary-night-for-human-rights-and-the-rule-of-law/

http://www.newswire.ca/fr/news-releases/deux-defenseurs-exceptionnels-des-droits-de-la-personne-honores-par-le-barreau-614640034.html (FRANCAIS)

Saudi Arabia: Imprisoned Activist Waleed Abu al-Khair Earns Human Rights Award | Human Rights Watch Press Release

February 18, 2017

Saudi Arabia: Imprisoned Activist Earns Human Rights Award
Waleed Abu al-Khair Serving 15 Years for Peaceful Activism

(Beirut, February 20, 2017) – The Law Society of Upper Canada’s selection of the imprisoned Saudi human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair for its 2016 Human Rights Award highlights Saudi Arabia’s brutal repression of peaceful activists and dissidents, Human Rights Watch said today. Saudi authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Abu al-Khair, who was sentenced in 2014 to 15 years in prison for his peaceful human rights advocacy, so that he can attend the award ceremony in Toronto on February 22, 2017.

Saudi courts have convicted at least 20 prominent peaceful activists and dissidents since 2011. Many, like Abu al-Khair, have faced sentences as long as 10 or 15 years on broad, catch-all charges – such as “breaking allegiance with the ruler” or “participating in protests” – that do not constitute recognizable crimes.

“Every day Waleed Abu al-Khair spends in prison compounds the injustice Saudi Arabia has imposed on him and his family,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Continued recognition of Abu al-Khair’s human rights work demonstrates that Saudi Arabia’s repression of peaceful activists and dissidents generates wide notice and criticism.”

Abu al-Khair has been one of Saudi Arabia’s leading human rights advocates for years.

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http://www.lrwc.org/saudi-arabia-imprisoned-activist-waleed-abu-al-khair-earns-human-rights-award-human-rights-watch-press-release/

https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/20/saudi-arabia-imprisoned-activist-earns-human-rights-award

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/23777

https://www.hrw.org/ar/news/2017/02/20/300236 (العربية)

http://www.lrwc.org/saudi-arabia-hands-off-samar-badawi-says-lrwc-letter/

http://www.omct.org/human-rights-defenders/urgent-interventions/saudi-arabia/2017/02/d24209/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waleed_Abulkhair