Parlementaire vragen over Raif Badawi in Saoedi Arabie

Met dank overgenomen van M.R. (Marietje) Schaake i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 30 september 2014, 2:21.

D66-Europarlementariër Marietje Schaake heeft vragen gesteld aan EU-buitenlandchef Catherine Ashton over de veroordeling van Raif Badawi in Saoedi Arabië. Badawi werd in 2012 opgepakt voor het oprichten van een website voor sociaal en politiek debat, die de algemene veiligheid in gevaar zou brengen. Op 1 september is zijn hoger beroep verworpen en is hij veroordeeld. Lees hieronder de parlementaire vragen.

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On 1 September, the Court of Appeal in Saudi Arabia upheld the sentence imposed on Raif Badawi on 7 May. Badawi was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, subjection to 1,000 lashes, a 10-year travel ban, a ban on using media outlets, and a fine of one million Saudi Arabian riyals (about 200.000 euro). The conviction and sentence stemmed from Badawi´s co-founding of an online forum aimed at encouraging political and social debate, and on the accusation that he had “insulted Islam”. Now that Badawi´s sentence is final, the first set of lashes may be imposed within weeks.

  • 1. 
    Is the VP/HR aware of this case, and if so, how does she asses it, considering that Saudi Arabia has adhered to the Convention against Torture in 1997, which prohibits torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment?
  • 2. 
    What has the VP/HR and/or EEAS done to address this case, and how do they intend to move forward in the future, to push for the immediate and unconditional release of Raif Badawi?
  • 3. 
    What action has the VP/HR and/or EEAS undertaken to address the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia, as addressed and recommended in resolution P7_TA-PROV(2014)0207 of the European Parliament that was adopted on 11 March 2014?

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