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Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi is a Saudi Arabian human rights activist and blogger. In November 2014 he was sentenced to ten years in prison, a fine and 1000 lashes for insulting Islam.

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All Content on this topic

A Saudi man smokes a cigarette and reads something on his mobile phone in Riyadh

How cybercrime laws are silencing dissent in Mideast

Many Mideast countries misuse cybercrime legislation to crush dissent. Could a new UN treaty save critics?
PoliticsMay 13, 2022
Justin Shilad

World must still speak out for jailed journalists

Justin Shilad
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is free. But the world still needs to speak out against the crackdown on press freedom.
Press FreedomMarch 12, 2022
Raif Badawi's wife hold up a large photo of Badawi

Saudi blogger freed after 10 years in prison

Saudi dissident Raif Badawi had been imprisoned and lashed for allegedly "insulting Islam" on his online forum.
Freedom of SpeechMarch 11, 2022
Protesters from Reporters Without Borders hold a sign showing imprisoned Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi

Many activists remain in Saudi Arabia's jails

Raif Badawi has been released after 10 years in prison. But the blogger is not the only activist behind bars.
PoliticsMarch 11, 2022
People take part in a protest by Amnesty International, for the immediate release of the Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, in front of the Saudi Embassy in The Hague, on January 15, 2015.

Is jailed Saudi blogger Badawi's release imminent?

The wife of high profile Saudi Arabian writer Raif Badawi explains why the time is right for his release.
PoliticsFebruary 23, 2022
Ensaf Haidar holds a picture of her husband Raif Badawi after accepting the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize on behalf of her husband.

Raif Badawi: 9 years in a Saudi prison

Despite international pressure and efforts to secure his release, the dissident writer is still behind bars.
PoliticsJune 17, 2021
Autoren setzen sich für inhaftierten Blogger Badawi ein

Would Canadian citizenship free Raif Badawi?

Officials say the imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi would be welcome in Canada, where his family lives.
PoliticsMarch 25, 2021
Badawi's wife Ensaf Haidar holds a photo of her husband during a press conference in 2015

German writers call for Saudi blogger's release

Saudi dissident Raif Badawi has been imprisoned and lashed for allegedly "insulting Islam" in an online forum.
SocietySeptember 14, 2020
Kanada Saudi-Arabien Demonstration für Blogger Raif Badawi

Writers call for support for imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi

More than 50 writers have appealed to German government to demand release of imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi.
Human RightsSeptember 14, 2020
Ensaf Haidar holding board that says 'Free Raif'

Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi's wife 'fears the worst'

Ensaf Haidar has taken to twitter to express concerns for her husband's month-long disappearance.
PoliticsFebruary 14, 2020
Ensaf Haidar hold sup a sign calling for the release of her husband, Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi's wife inspired by global solidarity

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi recently began a new hunger strike after nearly eight years in prison.
Human RightsJanuary 14, 2020
Ensaf Haidar standing next to a poster of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi

Badawi 'ends' hunger strike in jail

Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has ended his hunger strike, says his Canada-exiled wife.
Human RightsSeptember 22, 2019
Badawi billboard in Germany

Saudi blogger Badawi goes on hunger strike

Saudi dissident Raif Badawi has started a hunger strike as the conditions of his imprisonment have reportedly worsened.
CrimeSeptember 20, 2019
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with US VP Mike Pence in Washington in March 2018

Pence urges Saudi Arabia to free blogger

Washington, which usually refrains from criticizing Saudi rights violations, has called for the release of Raif Badawi.
SocietyJuly 19, 2019
Bildkombi - Raif Badawi und Jamal Khashoggi

From Badawi to Khashoggi: Freedom of speech in Saudi Arabia

The faces of Raif Badawi and Jamal Khashoggi have become symbols of Saudi Arabia's repression of free speech.
MediaFebruary 26, 2019
Logo Raif Badawi Award 2018

Journalist network ARIJ win Raif Badawi Award

The Jordan-based independent network of journalists is the 2018 winner of a prize honoring the courage of journalists.
CultureOctober 10, 2018
Kersten Knipp

Opinion: Cynicism as reason of state

Kersten Knipp
Yemen, civil rights activists at home, and now Canada: Saudi-Arabia's conduct is extreme, says Kersten Knipp.
ConflictsAugust 10, 2018
Samar Badawi

Saudi Arabia detains two prominent women activists

The arrest of two prominent women activists comes amid the recent social reforms introduced by Crown Prince Salman.
SocietyAugust 1, 2018
Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Arabia's reformer and hard-liner

He is known as "MBS" or "Mr. Everything." As the king's favorite son, prospects are good he'll take power in Riyadh.
PoliticsNovember 5, 2017
Prince Turki Al-Faisal on Conflict Zone

Prince Turki Al-Faisal on Conflict Zone

DW’s Tim Sebastian presses Prince Turki Al-Faisal on cases of torture, Raif Badawi and alternative facts in Saudi Arabia
PoliticsJuly 26, 201726:00 min
Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia

Blogger Raif Badawi marks 5 years in prison

His crime was writing critically about politics and society in Saudi Arabia. The fight for his release goes on.
PoliticsJune 17, 2017
Saudi Arabien Königsturm in Riad

UN scrutinizes Saudi Arabia's anti-terror laws

A UN rights expert has been given unprecedented access to review the Saudi Kingdom's terrorist legislation.
TerrorismMay 5, 2017
PK Europäisches Parlament - Foto von Raif Badawi

Ensaf Haidar: An appeal to Saudi Arabia

"He's doing poorly," says Ensaf Haidar of her husband, the blogger Raif Badawi. She's demanding freedom of expression.
PoliticsMay 3, 2017
Merkel reist nach Saudi-Arabien

Merkel's Saudi Arabia visit

German Chancellor Merkel has arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah to hold talks with the kingdom's authorities.
SocietyApril 30, 2017
Zitattafel Prince Turki Al-Faisal on Conflict Zone

Saudi Arabia: Accusations and invitations

Tim Sebastian presses Prince Turki Al-Faisal on Raif Badawi, "alternative facts" and torture cases in Saudi Arabia. 
PoliticsFebruary 22, 2017
Deutschland Protest vor der Botschaft von Saudi Arabien

@dwnews - Raif Badawi's reported flogging sparks criticism of Saudi Arabia

PoliticsOctober 21, 201603:53 min
Kanada Saudi-Arabien Demonstration für Blogger Raif Badawi

Badawi threatened with more lashes

In an interview with DW, Ensaf Haidar opens up about her fears for her detained husband, Saudi blogger Raif Badawi.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2016
Raif Badawi Amnesty International Demo

Saudi blogger Raif Badawi to receive more lashes

The Saudi government will apparently resume the lashing punishment against blogger Raif Badawi.
Human RightsOctober 18, 2016
Deutschland Saudi Arabien Steinmeier mit Adel al-Dschubeir PK

Saudi rights abuses

Adam Coogle, from Human Rights Watch, criticizes Saudi Ariabia's rights record.
February 4, 2016
Samar Badawi Menschenrechtsaktivistin Saudi-Arabien

Samar Badawi released from Saudi detention

A day after being arrested in Saudi Arabia, Samar Badawi has been released from detention.
January 13, 2016
Samar Badawi

Sister of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi arrested

Samar Badawi, sister of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and former wife of Waleed Abu al-Khair, has been arrested.
January 13, 2016

The idea. The project. The team.

Artists all around the world fight for freedom of speech and individual rights. This project honors their efforts.
CultureJanuary 2, 2016
A demonstration in Berlin in support of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi

Sakharov Prize awarded to Badawi

Ensaf Haidar accepted the European Parliament's tribute for human rights on behalf of her husband, blogger Raif Badawi.
December 16, 2015
Kanada Saudi-Arabien Demonstration für Blogger Raif Badawi

Jailed blogger Badawi 'on hunger strike'

Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has begun a hunger strike, according to his wife Ensaf Haidar, who urges a pardon.
December 11, 2015
Raif Badawi Protest in London

Sakharov Prize-winner Raif Badawi

The blogger and Saudi-critic Badawi claims the prize as a representative for all persecuted human rights activists.
October 29, 2015
Raif Badawi Amnesty International Demo

Jailed blogger Badawi wins Sakharov Prize

Human rights prize goes to Raif Badawi. Previous winners include Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela.
October 29, 2015
Deutschland Ensaf Haidar Frau von Raif Badawi PK in Berlin

Raif Badawi's wife accepts DW Freedom of Speech award

Ensaf Haidar, wife of the blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes by a Saudi court, has announced a new freedom foundation.
Human RightsSeptember 11, 2015
Steinmeier and Jubeir Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

German, Saudi foreign ministers discuss Mideast crises

Human rights and the civil war in Syria were on the agenda as the German and Saudi foreign ministers met in Berlin.
August 10, 2015
A photo taken on 27 October 2013 shows an exterior view of the Icelandic Parliament building in the country's capital Reykjavik.

Iceland legalizes blasphemy

Iceland's parliament has abolished its laws against blasphemy, approving a bill by the country's minority Pirate Party.
July 3, 2015
Nigeria Lagos Demonstration #bringbackourgirls Kampagne

Can online campaigns bring offline change?

#Backlash, #IceBucketChallenge and #Kony2012 - how effective are these social media campaigns offline?
June 27, 2015
Ensaf Haidar

'I am fighting for my husband'

Ensaf Haidar won't be deterred in her battle for the release of her husband Raif Badawi.
Press FreedomJune 23, 2015
Großbritannien Demo für die Freilassung Raif Badawis in London

Canada offers to take in Saudi blogger Badawi

Canada is offering to take in Saudi Arabian Raif Badawi, sentenced to 1,000 lashes for criticizing Islam in a blog.
June 12, 2015
Demo, Raif Badawi, Berlin

Germans support Saudi blogger

Raif Badawi's supporters are determined not to give up.
June 11, 2015
Raif Badawi Amnesty International Demo

Saudi upholds sentence against blogger

Saudi Supreme Court has upheld a sentence of 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes against liberal blogger Raif Badawi.
June 7, 2015
IS lässt mehr als 200 Jesiden frei

Soft targets

Today's show focuses on the victims and fighters produced by the brutalities of so-called Islamic State -Yazidi women kidnapped by IS, the distraught mother of a radicalized youth, an Italian fighting against IS. We also hear about the muzzling of Russian protesters, an eye-catching social media campaign to free a Saudi blogger and an artist drawn to the world's hotspots.
June 5, 201554:59 min
Backlashgroup #Backlash Kampagne Raif Badawi

Eye-catching campaign

The head of the new online campaign #Backlash, talks about highlighting the plight of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose conviction on "insulting Islam" has come to symbolize Saudi oppression.
June 5, 201505:47 min
Backlashgroup #Backlash Kampagne Raif Badawi

#Backlash begins on social media

A new social media campaign is taking off to raise the plight of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi.
June 1, 2015
Kanada Saudi-Arabien Demonstration für Blogger Raif Badawi

Raif Badawi: a year on, groups urge blogger's release

It has been a year since Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes.
May 7, 2015
Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabian Blogger. Copyright: Badawi, private photo

Raif Badawi's book

A German version of the Saudi blogger's articles is being published. Nothing justifies his outrageous sentence.
April 1, 2015
Demonstration for the release of Raif Badawi (Photo: AFP)

Badawi’s ideas

Raif Badawi's writings - edited by a former DW correspondent - will soon be published.
March 30, 2015