Raif Badawi flogging: Coderre says Harper should intervene
Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail after criticizing Islam on blog
Montreal Mayor Denis CoderresaysPrime Minister Stephen Harper shouldintervene directly in the case of Raif Badawi, the Saudi bloggersentenced to 1,000 lashes for criticizing Islam online.
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Coderre met withBadawi'swifeEnsafHaidarbefore introducing amotion at city hall in Montrealon Mondayafternooncondemning the flogging.
He calledforBadawito be released and reunited with his wife andthree children inSherbrooke, Que.
"Pressure from Canada and a phone call from the prime minister couldmake a big difference," saidCoderre.
Coderre said the fact thatBadawiis not aCanadian citizen doesn't mean Canada can't do something to help him.
"I'm a former immigration minister. I believe in reuniting families," he said.
Badawiis currently in jail in Saudi Arabia, serving a 10-year sentence for crimes related to criticizing Islam on an internet blog.
He was also sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes, to be delivered in weekly batches of 50.
He was flogged for the first time on Jan. 9. However, the next six flogging sessions were postponed.
The motion at Montreal city hall comes after the Feb. 11 motion passed unanimously in Quebec's National Assemblycalling on the governments of Quebec and Canada to do everything possible to secure Badawis freedom.
Raif Badawi's wife is @ Mtl city hall as all parties stand up & call for Cdn govt to push 4 Badawi's release. #cbcmtl pic.twitter.com/pgtxSnCN5Z
—@salimah_shivji