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Raif Badawi, jailed Saudi blogger, has flogging delayed again

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was spared his 50 weekly lashes once again, according to Amnesty International.

Amnesty International says Badawi's illness is reason behind repeated delays

CBC News ·
Ensaf Haidar (centre), the wife of Raif Badawi, protested on Parliament Hill for the release of the jailed Saudi blogger. (Chris Wattie/Reuters)

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was spared his 50 weekly lashes once again, according to Amnesty International.

Badawi, 31, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes — 50 every Friday — for criticizing the Saudi regime and insulting Islam.

Ensaf Haidar, wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi who has been flogged by Saudi authorities, takes part in a news conference in Ottawa in Ottawa, Thursday, Jan.29, 2015. (The Canadian Press)

He received his first 50 lashes on Jan. 9. However, his second and third punishments were delayed for medical reasons.

The fourth, scheduled for today, has also been delayed according to the international human rights organization.

His wife Ensaf Haidar, now a refugee living in Sherbrooke, Que., said that Badawi can’t endure another flogging.

She joined an all-party coalition of MPs on Parliament Hill on Thursday urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to intervene personally with the Saudis.

They want the prime minister to personally push for the release of Badawi.

"Raif's health condition is getting worse and worse," Haidar said through a translator during a press conference on Parliament Hill yesterday.

With files from The Canadian Press

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