A leading human rights group says Saudi authorities have postponed the second round of public flogging of a blogger convicted of insulting Islam, citing medical reasons.
Amnesty International says authorities delayed administering 50 lashings to Raif Badawi, which were set to take place on Friday after midday prayers, because his wounds from last week’s flogging had not yet healed properly.
Badawi was sentenced in May to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. He had criticized Saudi Arabia’s powerful clerics on a liberal blog that he founded.
Badawi’s first public flogging took place last Friday before dozens of people in the Red Sea city of Jiddah. The father of three was taken to a public square, whipped on his back and legs, and taken back to prison.
Associated Press