Among the most prominent cases of prisoners of conscience is that of Raif Badawi (seen below with his children), who, along with his brother-in-law and lawyer,Waleed Abu al-Khair is still imprisoned in Saudi Arabia.
Let us first examine two notable videos to gain a better understanding of Raif Badawi, and two other imprisoned Saudis: Turki Al-Hamad and Hamza Kashgari
The next video features an informative interview with the wife of Raif Badawi, Ensaf Haidar. She mentions that Raif's writings on his website (Free Saudi Liberals) were about "Freedom of belief, women's rights, human rights," and she shares her own thoughts on Saudi Arabia and Raif's imprisonment.
Highlighting the importance that he attaches to freedom is the very name of the blog that Raif created: Free Saudi Liberals. Raif would post articles to this blog, encouraging a more secular society in Saudi Arabia. But repressive forces in Saudi Arabia fear change, and fear free thought. His articles were admired. Then one dreary June day in 2012, he was arrested by the Saudi government -- the charge was that he had insulted "Islam through electronic channels."
And now Raif is imprisoned, waiting, wondering if he shall again be whipped.
Despite this he retains his magnanimity, stating: "We want life for those who call for our death, and rationality for those who desire ignorance for us."
Since his imprisonment, Raif has won several prominent awards for his fight for human rights, including the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2015,
Let us ponder these particular words Raif said: ""Any religion based state has a mission to limit the minds of its people, to fight the developments of history and logic, and to dumb down its citizens. It's important to stand in the way of such a mentality, to deny it from continuing its mission to murder the souls of its people, killing them deep within while they are still alive and breathing."
Evidently Raif was deeply impressed with this quote from Nobel Laureate Albert Camus, a quote which deeply applies to him: “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
Waleed Abu al-Khair (below) has as a lawyer represented both Raif Badawi and Raif's sister, Samar, (herself a noted fighter for human rights, and married to Waleed).
And now Raif is imprisoned, waiting, wondering if he shall again be whipped.
Despite this he retains his magnanimity, stating: "We want life for those who call for our death, and rationality for those who desire ignorance for us."
Since his imprisonment, Raif has won several prominent awards for his fight for human rights, including the prestigious Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2015,
Let us ponder these particular words Raif said: ""Any religion based state has a mission to limit the minds of its people, to fight the developments of history and logic, and to dumb down its citizens. It's important to stand in the way of such a mentality, to deny it from continuing its mission to murder the souls of its people, killing them deep within while they are still alive and breathing."
Evidently Raif was deeply impressed with this quote from Nobel Laureate Albert Camus, a quote which deeply applies to him: “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
Waleed Abu al-Khair (below) has as a lawyer represented both Raif Badawi and Raif's sister, Samar, (herself a noted fighter for human rights, and married to Waleed).
Like Raif, Waleed has been imprisoned by the Saudi Government. He was given a 15 year prison sentence for "undermining the regime and officials", "inciting public opinion" and "insulting the judiciary."
Prior to his arrest, Waleed had published numerous articles (300 or so) on human rights & legal issues. Two noteworthy articles he wrote were "Our steadfast pursuit of a freer Saudi Arabia" (for the Washington Post) and Saudis Stymied by Fear.
Due to his struggle for human rights, Waleed has won the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize and Sweden's Olof Palme Award, He has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"As a free people, we will keep saying to the unjust, you are unjust!!" -- Waleed Abu al-Khair
Prior to his arrest, Waleed had published numerous articles (300 or so) on human rights & legal issues. Two noteworthy articles he wrote were "Our steadfast pursuit of a freer Saudi Arabia" (for the Washington Post) and Saudis Stymied by Fear.
Due to his struggle for human rights, Waleed has won the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize and Sweden's Olof Palme Award, He has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
"As a free people, we will keep saying to the unjust, you are unjust!!" -- Waleed Abu al-Khair
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