Raif Badawi weekly flogging delayed for 6th time - Action News
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Raif Badawi weekly flogging delayed for 6th time

Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger jailed for criticizing Islam, has had his weekly lashes delayed for a sixth time, according to Amnesty International.

Amnesty International says the reasons for the new delays are so far unknown

Ensaf Haidar, wife of blogger Raif Badawi, has been demanding the release of her husband since he was jailed. She and their children are refugees living in Quebec. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger jailed for criticizing Islam, has had his weekly lashes delayed for a sixth time, according to Amnesty International.

Badawi was arrested in June 2012 after criticizing the Saudi regime and expressing views critical of Islam on his blog.

He was eventually sentenced in May 2014 to 10 years in jail and1,000 lashes, to be delivered in batches of 50 every week.

He was flogged for the first time on Jan. 9. However, the next six flogging sessions were postponed. At least two of the postponements were due to medical reasons.

Raif Badawi was sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes, as well as spend 10 years in jail, for criticizing Muslim clerics in Saudi Arabia. (Amnesty International Canada)

Amnesty International on Friday said it did not know why his flogging was delayed this week.

Last week, the human-rights organization said he had not yet beenseen by a doctor.

Badawi is a 32-year-old blogger and activist. Hiswife and three children are refugeeslivingin Sherbrooke, Que.

His case was transferred to the Saudi criminal court earlier in February.

Amnesty International is calling forBadawi'ssentence to be quashed and for him to be released immediately and unconditionally so he can join his family in Canada.