we must shout louder against violence

 

When people try to take away free speech, we must shout louder Inbox x Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ via mail67.wdc03.rsgsv.net  9:34 PM (26 minutes ago) to me Graphic warning: Stop the public flogging of blogger Raif Badawi View this email in your browser I am sickened and saddened to share the news that, despite a powerful global outcry, blogger Raif Badawi was flogged last week after morning prayers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. His crime? Starting a blog where readers could openly discuss religion, politics and other topics. For this peaceful act, Raif is serving 10 years in a Saudi Arabian prison and was sentenced to 1,000 lashes. His first 50 lashes happened last Friday, and he is to receive his next flogging today. Raif's wife, Ensar Haidar, has told Amnesty International that she fears her husband may not be able to physically withstand a second round of lashes due to poor health and the pain he has already undergone. Tell the Saudi government to respect free speech and stop torture >> Saudi Arabia condemned the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris as 'cowardly’. But the next day, they flogged Raif for exercising his right to free expression. We need to expose this hypocrisy and embarrass the Saudi government into action now. An eyewitness shared an account of Raif's brutal flogging. It's almost too difficult to read, but we cannot be shocked into silence. When people try to take away free speech, we must shout louder >> "Raif was escorted from a bus and placed in the middle of the crowd, guarded by eight or nine officers. He was handcuffed and shackled but his face was not covered - everyone could see his face... A security officer approached him from behind with a huge cane and started beating him. Raif raised his head towards the sky, closing his eyes and arching his back. He was silent, but you could tell from his face and his body that he was in real pain. The officer beat Raif on his back and legs, counting the lashes until they reached 50. The punishment took about five minutes. It was very quick, with no break in between lashes." Raif still has 950 lashes left to go in this cruel form of torture and humiliation, but you can help stop this, Rbobert. Join me in demanding that Raif is not flogged again and call for his immediate release >> Let's make the authorities hear us now. Margaret Taylor, Activism Support Manager Why did I get this email? You were sent this email because you have previously taken action with Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ using the email address, robert.q.hussein@gmail.com. If you would prefer not to receive any further correspondence of this kind, please use this link to unsubscribe. For more information about all our campaigns please visit our website. Our mailing address is: P O Box 5300 Wellesley St Auckland 1141 Copyright (C) Amnesty International Aotearoa NZ Inc All rights reserved. Connect with us: