6 ways you can help Raif Badawi and other activists in Saudi Arabia

Saudi human rights activist Samar Badawi was released from custody on January 13. But her arrest provides further damning proof of the Saudi authorities’ intent to suppress all signs of peaceful dissen. One year after Raif Badawi was publicly flogged, he and many other activists across Saudi Arabia urgently need your support.

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by Ella Knight, Amnesty International

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A year after the international outcry over his public flogging, Raif Badawi and dozens of activists remain in prison and at risk of cruel punishments in Saudi Arabia. More and more are being sentenced under a harsh counter-terrorism law, while Saudi Arabia’s allies shamelessly back the Kingdom’s repression in the name of the so-called ‘war on terror’. Join the fight back today – here are six ways you can demand action from Saudi Arabia.

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1. Demand Raif Badawi’s immediate release

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In May 2014, the Saudi Arabian government sentenced blogger Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, for the ‘crime’ of setting up an online forum to encourage social and public debate. On Friday 9 January 2015, Raif received the first 50 painful lashes. He hasn’t been flogged since, and Amnesty supporters across the world have continued to fight for his release.

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>> Learn more and take action

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, Raif Badawi with this children. Credit: Private

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Tweet now: Tell King Salman he must release Raif Badawi immediately and unconditionally!

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2. Help free human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair

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In July 2014, lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair was jailed for 15 years under a cruel counter-terrorism law in Saudi Arabia. He has defended many peaceful activists, including Raif Badawi, and has challenged the widespread crackdown on human rights across the country. 

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Waleed is a prisoner of conscience, not a terrorist. Please join the call for his immediate and unconditional release.

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>> Sign the petition

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, Human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair. Credit: Private

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3. Tweet to save three young activists from execution

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There are rising fears about the impending executions of three young Shi’a activists, Ali al-Nimr, Dawood al-Marhoon and Abdullah al-Zaher. They were all under 18 when they were arrested after taking part in anti-government rallies. All three have had grossly unfair trials and were sentenced to death based on ‘confessions’ they claim were extracted under torture. Ali al-Nimr is the nephew of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the prominent Shi’a Muslim cleric who was executed alongside 46 other people on 2 January 2016.

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>> Sign the petition

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Activist Ali al-Nimr. Credit: Private

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, Tweet now: Demand King Salman immediately commutes the death sentences of the three young activists.

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4. Demand the release of peaceful human rights activists

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Saudi Arabia continues to ban independent human rights associations and jail founding members. Human rights defenders Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid and Dr Abdulkareem al-Khoder were recently sentenced to nine and 10 years in prison respectively after blatantly unfair trials at the Kingdom’s notorious counter-terror court. The pair were founding members of the now disbanded independent Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA). Eight other members of ACPRA are either already behind bars or still on trial for calling for political and human rights reform.

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, Human rights defenders Dr Abdulrahman al-Hamid (far left) and Dr Abdulkareem al-Khoder (third right) with other members and supporters of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA). Credit: Private

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Tell Saudi Arabia to free these peaceful human rights activists today!

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5. Get the Canadian government to pressure Saudi Arabia

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The Canadian government should be doing all it can to make Saudi Arabia do the right thing. Tweet the government’s official accounts and ask them to pressure Saudi Arabia to release Raif, Waleed and other peaceful human rights activists:

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Canadian embassy in Saudi Arabia: @CanEmbSA

, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Dion: @HonStephaneDion

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You can also contact your MP to express your concerns and urge the Canadian government to press the Saudi Arabian authorities. 

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6. Pressure Saudi Arabia’s embassy in your country

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, Call, fax or write the Saudi Arabia embassy to demand change. For example, you could say: “I am calling to enquire about the case of Ali al-Nimr, the juvenile offender sentenced to death. I am very concerned about the fact that he is being held in solitary confinement and might be executed at any time.” We know this can be a particularly effective (and annoying) form of campaigning.

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The Embassy’s hours are 9am-4pm. The number is: 613-237-4100 (if that line is busy you can try 4101, 4102 or 4103).

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His Excellency Naif Bandir A. Alsudairy

, Ambassador for Saudi Arabia

, 201 Sussex Drive

, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1K6

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Postage: $0.85

, Fax:  (613) 237-0567

, Email:  caemb@mofa.gov.sa

, Via website:  http://embassies.mofa.gov.sa/sites/canada/EN/Ambassador/Pages/Contact.aspx

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Read more

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Saudi Arabia: A year of bloody repression since flogging of Raif Badawi

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News: Shia cleric among 47 executed by Saudi Arabia in a single day

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Saudi Arabia: UN expert working group highlights appalling record on unlawful detention of peaceful activists

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Saudi Arabia: 10 brutal facts beyond the Raif Badawi case

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