The family of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who resides in Canada, indicated that the date of his release may be approaching, after he spent 10 years in prison in the kingdom for demanding an end to religious influence on public life in it.
The 38-year-old blogger who has become a symbol of freedom of expression may be released on Monday, his wife, Ensaf Haider, told AFP.
However, Haider stressed that the Saudi authorities did not confirm this at all, and said, “Like us, he counts months, weeks and days… but he has no specific date, no details or news.”
Haider, a political refugee who has been granted Canadian citizenship, lives with her three children in Sherbrooke, about 150 km east of Montreal, where she has campaigned for years for her husband’s release.
Quebec paved the way for Raif Badawi to be granted asylum in Canada by including his name on a list of potential humanitarian priority immigrants.
In 2014, a Saudi court sentenced the Saudi blogger, who won the “Reporters Without Borders” award for freedom of the press, to 10 years in prison and received 50 lashes per week over a period of 20 weeks for “insulting Islam”.
Communication continued between Haider and her husband by phone at a frequency of “up to three times a week.”
“It was not easy,” Haidar said, adding, “The only options available to me were: to be positive and not stand idly by and knock on all doors for Raef’s release.”
After the great support she received globally during the past ten years, Haidar confirmed that she was not “alone” in her struggle.
“I hope that one day I will live normally with my children and husband,” she added, “He is an open man, loves freedom and loves for women to become independent,” describing him as “positive” and “a good father.”
Colette Lolivar of Amnesty International Canada stated that Badawi received “50” lashes out of a thousand, and that “this part of the sentence has not been overturned.”
According to Lolliafer, Badawi will remain subject to a travel ban for ten years after the completion of his sentence.