MONTREAL - The wife of imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi says her husband has begun a hunger strike after being transferred to a different prison.

Ensaf Haidar tells Amnesty International her husband began it on Tuesday to protest the move.

A spokesperson for Amnesty International Canada says the organization believes the transfer was expected as part of an administrative decision.

Badawi, whose wife and three children live in Quebec, was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for his criticism of Saudi clerics.

He received 50 of the lashes in January during a public flogging.

Amnesty International is calling on Canadian government officials to work to end Badawi's detention so he can join his family.