Amnesty International has renewed its call for the Canadian government to help free Raif Badawi, jailed in Saudi Arabia, reports Canadian Press (CP). Badawi is not Canadian, but his wife and children are living in the province of Quebec. She and several dozen other people rallied in Montreal today, as they have done several times before.
Amnesty International’s Beatrice Vaugrante told CP she is worried that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently said he wanted to help free Badawi, but that he must tread warily. She added Canada needs to enhance its reputation as a defender of human rights and do more to free Badawi, according to CP.
Badawi was arrested in 2012 for his criticism of Saudi clerics. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. He is believed to have received 50 so far in one session in January 2015.
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