Raif Badawi facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Raif Badawi
رائف بن محمد بدوي
Badawi in 2012
Born	(1984-01-13) 13 January 1984 (age 41) Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Nationality	Saudi Arabian
Occupation	Author, writer and activist
Known for	Blogging, apostasy charge
Criminal charge(s)	Insulting Islam
Criminal penalty	10 years in prison; 1000 lashes; fine of SAR 1 million
Criminal status	Released 11 March 2022; banned from travel outside country until 2032
Spouse(s)	Ensaf Haidar (m. 2002)
Children	3
Relatives	Samar Badawi (sister)

Raif bin Muhammad Badawi (Arabic: رائف بن محمد بدوي) is a writer and activist from Saudi Arabia. He is known for creating a website called Free Saudi Liberals.

In 2012, Raif Badawi was arrested. He faced charges related to his online writings. In 2013, he was sentenced to prison and a form of punishment called lashes. This sentence was later made harsher in 2014. He was to receive 1,000 lashes and spend 10 years in prison. He also had to pay a large fine.

The first 50 lashes were given in January 2015. After that, further punishments were put off many times. This was often because of Raif Badawi's poor health. His wife, Ensaf Haidar, later moved to Canada for safety. She has spoken out many times about her husband's situation.

An organization called the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights has worked to help Raif Badawi. They have tried to get him released from prison. On March 11, 2022, Raif Badawi was released after 10 years in prison. However, he is not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia until 2032.

Raif Badawi's Early Life

Raif Badawi was born on January 13, 1984, in Khobar, Saudi Arabia. His mother was Lebanese Christian, and his father was Saudi Muslim. His grandmother told him that Saudi society used to be more open. She said men and women worked together in the past.

Raif's mother passed away when he was young. He was raised by his father and grandmother, who did not have much money. He went to school until he was thirteen. Then, his father reported him for not obeying, which was a crime in Saudi Arabia. He spent six months in a center for young people. This experience, along with bullying and strict religious teachings, affected him deeply.

Creating Free Saudi Liberals

How Reading and Meetings Shaped His Ideas

Raif Badawi started an online discussion site called "Saudi Liberal Network." He launched it on August 13, 2006.

He was inspired by many books from Arab writers. These authors looked at the world beyond just religious views. He admired books like The Universe Judges God and Arab Culture in the Age of Globalization. He also liked Prisoner 32 by Mohammed Saeed Tayeb, who became his mentor.

He was also influenced by Diwaniya, which are traditional evening meetings. Journalists, poets, and thinkers would gather. They discussed ideas for a more open and accepting society in Saudi Arabia. Raif often went to these meetings. He shared his hopes for a stronger civil society. He wanted less control in the name of religion. He aimed to help Saudi citizens know their rights.

Arrests and Court Cases

First Arrest and Sentence

Raif Badawi was first held in 2008 on charges related to his beliefs. He was released after one day. But he was not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia. His and his wife's bank accounts were frozen in 2009. His wife's family even tried to force them to divorce.

On June 17, 2012, he was arrested again. The charge was "insulting Islam through electronic channels." Later, he was also accused of turning away from his faith. This charge can lead to a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. However, Raif Badawi said in court that he was a Muslim. He also said that people should be free to choose their faith.

Organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International spoke out. They said Raif Badawi was a "prisoner of conscience." This means he was held only for peacefully expressing his views. They asked the government to drop the charges. They said his website allowed peaceful talks about religion.

In December 2012, Raif Badawi appeared in court. He was charged with "setting up a website that harms public safety." He was also accused of "making fun of Islamic religious figures." The judge sent the case about his faith to a higher court.

On July 30, 2013, Raif Badawi was sentenced. He received seven years in prison and 600 lashes. This was for creating an online forum that "goes against Islamic values." The court also ordered his website to be shut down.

Sentence Becomes Harsher

On December 26, 2013, Raif Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, said a judge wanted to retry him. This new trial could lead to a death sentence. On May 7, 2014, his sentence was increased. It became 1,000 lashes, 10 years in prison, and a fine of about $267,000. This was for "insulting Islam."

In March 2015, his wife said judges wanted to retry him for turning away from his faith. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty.

Ensaf Haidar Finds Safety in Canada

Ensaf Haidar, Raif Badawi's wife, speaking in 2015

After a court hearing, Raif Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, received threats. She moved to Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, with their three children. In January 2015, Canadian politicians said they would help Ensaf. They wanted to help her save her husband.

An activist named Kacem El Ghazzali spoke to the UN Human Rights Council. He criticized Saudi Arabia for Raif Badawi's sentence. He called it a "needless, harsh sentence."

Raif Badawi's Lawyer Imprisoned

Raif Badawi's lawyer, Waleed Abulkhair, was also put in prison. He had started a human rights group in Saudi Arabia. He was charged with "setting up an unlicensed organization." He was also accused of "breaking loyalty with the ruler." His requests to make his group legal were denied.

In July 2014, Waleed Abulkhair was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He also received a 15-year travel ban. The court found him guilty of "harming the government" and "making people angry." Waleed Abulkhair said Raif Badawi told the judge that everyone should have the right to believe or not believe.

Public Punishment

A group protests against the punishment of Badawi outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Oslo, Norway, 16 January 2015

On January 9, 2015, Raif Badawi received 50 lashes. This happened in front of many people near a mosque in Jeddah. This was the first part of his 1,000-lash sentence. Amnesty International and other groups strongly spoke against this. They called it a cruel act.

Prince Zeid bin Ra'ad of Jordan said this punishment is against international human rights laws. He asked the King of Saudi Arabia to stop the public punishment. He also asked for a review of such harsh sentences.

Raif Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, was very upset to hear about the punishment. She said it was "painfully horrible" to imagine what happened. She asked governments around the world to pressure Saudi authorities. She hoped they could stop the rest of the punishment. Later lashings were put off because Raif Badawi's injuries had not healed. He was also in poor health.

Global Reactions and Support

There was a worldwide effort to free Raif Badawi. This included protests, petitions, and social media campaigns. The hashtag "JeSuisRaif" became popular. Many people questioned doctors who might help with such punishments. They said it was like doctors taking part in torture.

The UK's Foreign Secretary raised the issue with the Saudi ambassador. He said the UK was very concerned about Raif Badawi's case. He added that the UK is against cruel punishment.

Eighteen Nobel Prize winners signed a letter. They asked Saudi academics to speak out against the punishment. Many Western scientists felt uneasy about working with Saudi academics. They were concerned about human rights.

By January 2015, Amnesty International's petition to free Raif Badawi had almost 800,000 signatures. His wife told the BBC that her family felt constant worry. She asked the Canadian Prime Minister to talk to Saudi authorities. She said Raif's health was getting worse.

When further lashings were postponed, people hoped Raif Badawi might be released. In Québec, where his family lives, people regularly protested. The local government also passed a motion. It condemned the punishment and asked for his freedom. By the end of February, the punishment had been postponed seven times.

Sixty-seven members of the United States Congress sent a letter to the King of Saudi Arabia. They asked for the release of all prisoners of conscience, including Raif Badawi. Archbishop Desmond Tutu also sent a letter to the King. He asked for mercy and forgiveness.

Oslo protest against Saudi Arabia's detention of Badawi, 3 February 2017

In March 2015, Ensaf Haidar asked Germany's Vice-Chancellor to help free Raif Badawi. The Vice-Chancellor said the harshness of the sentence was "unimaginable." He said it affected relations with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government said it would not accept interference in its internal affairs.

Sweden's foreign minister, Margot Wallström, also spoke about Raif Badawi. Saudi Arabia then blocked her speech at an Arab League meeting. Sweden later ended its arms agreement with Saudi Arabia.

In August 2018, Saudi Arabia expelled the Canadian ambassador. This happened after Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed concern. She asked for the release of Raif Badawi and his sister, Samar Badawi. In July 2019, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence also urged Saudi Arabia to free Raif Badawi.

Continued Concerns in 2015 and 2016

The Saudi Supreme Court upheld Raif Badawi's sentence. There were fears he could be punished again in June 2015. But the punishment was delayed once more. His wife believed he was in poor physical and mental health. She feared his sentence might be "a slow death."

In October 2016, there were new fears that the lashings could restart. Ensaf Haidar was shocked and worried. She hoped Saudi Arabia would not carry out the sentence. She wished they would take away his citizenship and send him to Canada. Raif Badawi reportedly went on hunger strike at least twice. Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister said such punishment would be "shameful."

Release from Prison

On March 11, 2022, Raif Badawi's family announced his release from prison. However, he is still not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia. A fundraising campaign was started to help his family pay the fines he was given.

Raif Badawi's Family Life

Raif Badawi met his wife, Ensaf Haidar, by accident. He misdialed her number. Ensaf called back, thinking it was a job offer. Raif kept calling her because he liked her voice. Ensaf was worried about her family's honor.

Eventually, Ensaf began talking to Raif in secret. Her brothers found out and took her phone. Raif traveled to Ensaf's hometown and gave her another phone and a rose in secret.

Raif Badawi and Ensaf Haidar married in 2002 in Saudi Arabia. Their first child, Najwa, was born in 2003. Their son, Doudi, was born in 2004. Their second daughter, Miriyam, was born in 2007.

The family lived in Jizan until Ensaf's brothers started bothering her. They wanted her to divorce Raif. So, the family moved to Jeddah, a more open city. Raif used to run a women's education system. He sold it after he started speaking out.

Raif Badawi's wife and children were given political asylum in Canada in 2013. They now live there.

Raif Badawi is Muslim. He has performed Umrah with his children. His wife has said he is a "good Muslim." She said he believed in a "live and let live" idea.

Awards and Honors

Awards Received

Raif Badawi has received many awards for his work and his fight for freedom of speech:

Günter Wallraff Prize for journalism 2019
International Laïcité Award 2018 (shared with Ensaf Haidar)
Daniel Pearl Award 2018
Montreal Press Club Freedom Award 2018
Liberty Victoria "Empty Chair" award 2016
Deschner Prize 2016 (shared with Ensaf Haidar)
Salam Prize for Peace (Frankfurt) 2016
Liberal International Prize for Freedom 2016
Prix Voltaire 2016
Sakharov Prize 2015, from the European Parliament
Swiss Freethinker Prize 2015 (shared with Ensaf Haidar and Waleed Abulkhair)
Sir Karl Popper Prize 2015
PEN Pinter Prize 2015 (shared with James Fenton)
Strasbourg Award Medal of Honor 2015
Franco-German Journalism Prize 2015
Thomas Dehler medal 2015
Press Freedom Prize 2015, from Reporters Without Borders, Sweden
Freedom of Speech Award 2015, from Deutsche Welle
Courage Award 2015, from the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy
Aikenhead Award 2015
One Humanity Award 2014
Netizen Prize 2014, from Reporters without Borders

Special Honors

Honorary membership 2019, by Cambridge Union (shared with Ensaf Haidar)
Honorary Doctorate, from Université de Sherbrooke
Honorary citizenship Montreal
Université de Sherbrooke named a master's program after him (2017–18)
Named one of the Leading Global Thinkers of 2015, By Foreign Policy
Named one of the Boss List 2015, By AskMen
Honorary citizenship, Sherbrooke, Quebec
Honorary Title for Freedom of Expression, from Brussels University Alliance (2015)
Honorary membership, PEN Canada
Honorary membership, PEN Denmark
Honorary membership, PEN Germany
Man of the Year 2015, By The Fifth Column
Honorary membership 2017, by Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec

Nominations

Nobel Peace Prize, 2015
Nobel Peace Prize, 2016
2014 Freedom Award, from Spain's Individual Freedom Party (P-LIB)
Freedom to Publish Prize 2014, from the International Publishers Association

Books by Raif Badawi

Badawi, Raif; Schreiber, Constantin, editor; Hetzl, Sandra, translator, 1000 Peitschenhiebe : weil ich sage, was ich denke [1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think]. Ullstein, Berlin 2015, ISBN: 978-3-550-08120-0 (German)
Badawi, Raif; Schreiber, Constantin, editor; Ahmad Danny Ramadan, translator, 1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think. Vancouver 2015, ISBN: 978-1771642095 (Canada)

Images for kids

Badawi in 2012
Ensaf Haidar, Raif Badawi's wife, speaking in 2015
A group protests against the punishment of Badawi outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Oslo, Norway, 16 January 2015
A protest outside the Saudi Arabian Embassy in London, 13 January 2017
Oslo protest against Saudi Arabia's detention of Badawi, 3 February 2017