Additional Name(s): Raif bin Muhammad Badawi, Raef bin Mohammed Badawi, رائف بن محمد بدوي
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Saudi Arabia
Ethnic Group: Arab
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Health Concerns: Corporal punishment
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: June/17/2012
Date of Sentencing: May/8/2014
Date of Release: March/11/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Blasphemy (General) Blasphemy (Other) Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Expression about Religion Online Activity Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Blasphemy
Raif Badawi was imprisoned for his religious freedom advoacy, expression about religion, and for criticizing religious authorities.
In June 2012, authorities arrested Badawi, a blogger and human rights activist who co-founded the website Free Saudi Liberals, for insulting Islam. Badawi and his colleagues intended the website to encourage debate on religious and political issues in Saudi Arabia despite the country's restricted civic space. However, Badawi faced harassment and questioning following the creation of Free Saudi Liberals, beginning with charges of insulting Islam in 2008, continuing through a 2009 travel ban and asset freeze.
In December 2012, Badawi's trial began, in which evidence reportedly included posts on Free Saudi Liberals that criticized Saudi religious authorities and raised theological questions. The Saudi courts originally also recommended charging Badawi with apostasy, a crime punishable by death, reportedly due to his liking a Saudi Christian Facebook page and saying that “Muslims, Jews, Christians, and atheists are all equal.” The judge dropped this charge after Badawi stated that he was a Muslim and recited the Islamic declaration of faith.
In July 2013, a Saudi court sentenced Badawi to 600 lashes and seven years in prison for insulting Islam and breaking the anti-cybercrime law by founding a liberal website.
In May 2014, an appeals court resentenced Badawi to 10 years in prison, 1,000 lashes, a one million riyal fine, and a 10-year travel and media ban following release.
In January 2015, Badawi received the first 50 lashes in front of Al Juffali Mosque in Jeddah. Following an international outcry and a medical doctor’s finding that Badawi could not physically endure more lashings, no further lashings were carried out.
In June 2015 and March 2017, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes.
On March 11, 2022, Raif was released from prison after completing his sentence.
Badawi is married with three children.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) advocated for Badawi as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.
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USCIRF Commissioners Stephen Schneck and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, January 13, 2023
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Saudi Arabia December 2022
"Raif Badawi" Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
USCIRF Press Release: Release of Raif Badawi an Overdue and a Necessary Step for Saudi Arabia March 11, 2022
USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza, Tweet, March 11, 2022
"Raif Badawi freed from Saudi prison" Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza, Tweet, January 13, 2021
USCIRF Tweet November 18, 2021
USCIRF Spotlight Podcast: Saudi Arabia’s Religious Reforms Not Enough October 2021
USCIRF Saudi Arabia Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Saudi Arabia September 2021
USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza, Tweet, March 17, 2021
USCIRF Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update February 25, 2021
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Calls for Magnitsky Sanctions on Saudi Officials Following Release of Loujain al-Hathloul February 10, 2021
USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza and Congressman James P. McGovern, Op-ed, May 25, 2020
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom Conditions in Saudi Arabia in 2019 January 2020
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Calls for Immediate Release of Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi December 13, 2019
USCIRF Press Release: Saudi Government Denies Medicine to Religious Prisoner of Conscience September 20, 2019
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Vice Chair Nadine Maenza Calls for Release of Imprisoned Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi July 30, 2019
USCIRF Commissioners Gayle Manchin and Nadine Maenza, Op-ed, April 28, 2019
U.S. Senate Letter to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), et al. March 19, 2019
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Commissioner Nadine Maenza to Advocate for Imprisoned Saudi Blogger Raif Badawi November 8, 2018
USCIRF Commissioner Clifford May, Op-ed, July 24, 2017
USCIRF Press Release: SAUDI ARABIA: Release Raif Badawi July 28, 2016
USCIRF Commissioner Thomas Reese, S.J., Testimony, July 14, 2016
USCIRF Commissioners Robert George and Hannah Rosenthal, Op-ed, May 3, 2016
U.S. Senate Letter to President Barrack Obama, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), James Risch (R-ID), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), April 19, 2016
USCIRF Letter to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud June 2015
USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Statement on flogging of Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi January 9, 2015