The city of Montreal will present a motion Monday to demand that the Canadian government intervene in the case of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger who has been imprisoned since 2012.
Badawi has been jailed in Saudi Arabia since criticizing the Saudi regime and for speaking out about Islam in his blog, which promotes human rights and democracy in his country.
He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, fined $300,000 and sentenced to 1,000 lashes. He’s received 50 lashes so far, at a public whipping Jan. 9, but his floggings have since been postponed.
Badawi’s wife Ensaf Haidar, and their three children came to Canada in 2013; they were granted asylum after facing persecution in the Arab world.
As well as expressing their solidarity for Badawi, Haidar and their children, the city’s motion calls on the federal government to intervene and obtain “the immediate liberation of Mr. Raif Badawi and encourage the reunification of his family in Canada.”
The motion will be presented at Monday’s municipal council meeting, and comes 12 days after Quebec’s National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion demanding his release.
Badawi’s case has attracted international attention and Amnesty international is working with the family on securing his release.
