The family of a Saudi Arabian man is asking the Canadian government to help free him from prison.
Raif Badawi, 32, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes over blog posts he wrote in which he “insults Islam,” according to authorities.
On Friday, Badawi received 50 lashes in front of hundreds of people after morning prayers in the port city of Jeddah -- a punishment he is sentenced to endure once a week for another 19 weeks.
His wife and three children came to Canada more than a year ago as refugees after facing persecution in the Arab world. They now live in Sherbrooke.
“The most difficult thing is not to be in a different country but for my children to be without their father,” his wife Ensaf Haider, 35, said through a translator.
Haider says the blog advocated for more personal freedom in Saudi Arabia and it gained momentum after the Arab Spring movement began in the Middle East.
Now Haider believes the Saudi government is making an example of her husband.
A YouTube video claims to show Badawi being flogged in public. CTV News cannot independently confirm that it is Badawi in the video, but his wife believes it is him.
“I’m appalled that Saudi Arabia could condemn the actions of ISIS, and then torture and execute its own citizens,” she said.
“They can do whatever they want to Raif, they will never break him.”
In a statement, the Canadian office for religious freedom says it's hoping “clemency and mercy” will be shown in his case.
"The punishment being administered to Mr. Badawi is inhumane and is unbecoming of a society which seeks to advance itself within the family of nations. Such advancement must be predicated on respect for freedom of religion and other fundamental human rights,” the statement reads.
Amnesty international is working with the family and says denouncing the punishment is not enough.
The organization wants diplomatic pressure levied against Saudi Arabia by Canada or Badawi could suffer more serious injury or even death.
“Canada has signed the protocol against torture so it has the obligation to act when a citizen in the world is being subjected to torture,” said Mireille Elchacar of Amnesty International.
They produced a video posted to YouTube in which Badawi's son, Doudi, reads a letter he wrote to his dad.
Amnesty International says Saudi officials have confirmed they intend to carry out the second round of floggings against Badawi on Friday.
