New Saudi crown prince offers fresh hope for Quebec family of blogger jailed since 2012

The wife of jailed Saudi blogger RaifBadawisays she's hopeful her husband could soon be free.

Ensaf Haidar, who lives in Quebec,told a news conference in Ottawa Thursday she got word from a European Parliament delegation that Badawi was on "a list of people who would be forgiven by the king but we don't know when."

Representatives from the European Parliament's subcommittee on human rights travelled to Saudi Arabia last October to plead the cause of human rights. In their discussions, they reiterated their call for Badawi'srelease.

This would bethe first time Badawi is on the list, his wife said. "This is also the first time that there is a list of prisoners of conscience," she added.

Badawiwas arrested in June 2012 and later sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for his criticism of Saudi clerics.

He received the first 50 lashes but is believed to have been spared the others because of his poor health.

Former MP and international human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler, who has been advocating for Badawi'srelease, confirmed the report, saying it suggests"there may be a clemency in the offing for Raif Badawi." But hestressed that "we've not had any official representation to that effect."

Speaking alongside Haidar at the news conference, Cotlersaid he's hopeful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has taken steps to modernize Saudi Arabia, could lead the country to change its position on Badawi.

MireilleElchacar, a representative of Amnesty International in Quebec'sEastern Townships who has been following the case, could not confirm that a royal pardon procedure is underway.

Delegation to Saudi Arabia on hold

A Quebec delegation, including Cotler and Quebec MNA Agns Maltais, had beenpreparing to plead Badawi's case with the Saudi government in February or March.

The project is on holdfor the moment given the latest developments.

This is not the first timethere have been reports Badawicould be released.

In November 2015, Swiss Foreign Secretary Yves Rossiersaid he was informed that Badawi'ssentence had been suspended.

Badawi's imprisonment has drawn widespread international condemnation, and human rights groups haveaccused Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of not doing enough to free him.

Badawi is not a Canadian citizen, but Haidarand theirthree children live in Sherbrooke, Que.

Global Affairs Canada has said the government has raised Badawi's case at the highest levels and continues to call for clemency.