Raif Badawi case should be foreign affairs' priority: Lawyers Without Borders

Lawyers Without Borders Canada ishoping the new Liberalgovernment in Ottawa will make the Raif Badawi case apriority.

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On the eve of the government's swearing-in, the advocacy group's executive director, Pascal Paradis, held a joint news conference in Montreal with the imprisoned Saudi blogger's wife, Ensaf Haidar.

"Raif Badawi's case is important," Paradis said."It should rank among the priorities of the new foreign affairs minister, starting Thursday."

"Mr.Trudeauhimself has been on Twitter, saying that Canada will stand alongsideRaifBadawi."

Badawi's own lawyer jailed

Badawiis currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of criticizing Islam and promoting liberal thought via his website.

He was also sentencedto receive 1,000 lashes to be delivered in batches of 50.

However, after the first lashing he was so badly injured that his subsequent weekly sessions were suspended for several months.

Lawyers Without Borders Canadaargues Badawi's treatment in Saudi Arabia violates the blogger's rights and violates bothSaudi law and international law.

The group has made a list of arguments to present to the next foreign affairs minister to help Canada make its case.

High on that list: Badawi has been without a lawyer to represent him, ever since his own lawyer was also jailed.

Badawi's wife, meanwhile, said the past few years have been an ordeal, althoughshe hasgood days and bad days.

"I hope Mr. Trudeau can go to Saudi Arabia and bring back Raif," Haidarsaid.

In September,Haidara refugee who lives in Sherbrooke, Que.with her and Badawi's childrencreated the Raif Badawi Foundation for Freedom with the help of Quebec legal clinic Juripop.