29 October 2015

Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi wins EU human rights prize

A Saudi blogger sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam has won the European Union's Sakharov Prize for human rights.

Raif Badawi, who was arrested in 2012, was today described by the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz as "an extremely good man...who has had imposed on him one of the most gruesome penalties that exist".

President Schulz then called on the king of Saudi Arabia to free the laureate, "so he can accept his prize."

Today's announcement was met with a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. [ITV News] Read more