On Tuesday and Wednesday I had the great honor of meeting with Ensaf Haidar, the wife of the heroic and courageous Raif Badawi. About Raif Badawi: “On 17 June 2012, he was arrested on a charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels, and in December of that year was also cited for apostasy, a conviction which carries an automatic death sentence. Human Rights Watch stated that Raif’s website had hosted material criticising ‘senior religious figures’. Raif had also suggested that Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University had become ‘a den for terrorists.’…On July 30, 2013, Saudi media reported that Raif Badawi had been sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for founding an Internet forum that ‘violates Islamic values and propagates liberal thought’. The court also ordered the website closed. On December 26, 2013, Ensaf Haidar told CNN that a judge had recommended him to go before a high court for the apostasy charge which would result in a death penalty if convicted. On May 7, 2014 Raif was re-sentenced to 1000 lashes and ten years in prison. He also received a fine of 1 million riyal (equal to about $267,000).”
Raif Badawi is still in prison and is in poor health. This entire case is an outrage against human rights no less than that of Asia Bibi. Please read the full details of the case here, and do whatever you can, in your sphere in life, to call attention to Raif’s plight and to help get him freed.
Renate says
Where is Amnesty International on this? What about the U.N. that goes on about people’s rights?
observer says
Pah !
The UN.
Of what worth is the UN ?
Not even I need a Dummy Manual for understanding the UN…
But I understand the frustration that drives your question Renate. I’d also guess it’s a rhetorical question…
Sigh…
Renate says
Well, the U.N. does go on at length about human rights, but I guess it’s like Animal Farm where “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
observer says
Yep
Jon Sobieski says
Why do all these human rights orgs. always stay quiet about the way islam treats people? Sure they mumble about it here and there, but unlike transgenders, or black victim-hood, it is off the agenda for them. Who is buttering their bread?
christianblood says
May God bless this brave lady and her husband! Don’t expect the Saudi-loving US government to raise the human rights situation of this victim with their Saudi buddies? Her husband’s life is in grave danger as he can be beheaded for apostasy at any moment!
Carmel Rose Smith says
Christianblood of course he is in real danger, and that would be the case in any Muslim-dominant country, would it not? I’m sure in many of those he’d already be dead. But the Saudis seem to favour slow rot more than some others. Consider the plight of the four daughters of former King Abdullah, held captive in a compound since 2005…no one seems to know if they are still alive, does anyone care? Of course, they are “just women” in an Islamic nation, so they don’t count as much.
They can just let him sicken and die, even if they don’t execute.
Anyway, apostasy is against the Islamic code, no matter what the country… and carries the death penalty, under Sharia Law. Look at Pakistan. It doesn’t even take a government to do it. Any Muslim, no matter what country they live in, can carry that sentence out as a vigilante and be a hero for Islam! If he gets let off–I pray he does, and it will be a miracle if he does–he will still be in danger from any devout Muslim who takes it in his head to uphold the Koran.
That said, I agree we need to put pressure on whomever–wherever and however–to get him released. Again, the human rights people turning a blind eye to Islamic law and Islamic barbarism. I’m not defending the Saudis by any means. But Islam is the common denominator in many of these despotic nations, including Iran.
observer says
Horrific !
I imagine that Ensaf must be greatly comforted by your understanding of her plight and that of Raif, her husband.
Thank you – always Robert – for what you do for our world.
You are a phenomenally bright light in an increasingly dark world.
I so feel for Ensaf and Raif…
And Asia !
May the force for evil that so challenges the lives of Ensaf and Raif be stopped dead in its tracks. May our world be granted miracles where both Raif and Asia (Bibi) are concerned.
A huge ask- I know! – but still I’ll ask it!
Lord hear our prayers for these persecuted people…
If I said more in my own country I wld probably end up needing to seek asylum somewhere myself.
It’s mind-bending, this ongoing horror…
FYI says
But what exactly constitutes an insult to islam?
islam is terribly smelly
islam has a tiny willy
islam is a fat hairy slob with BO
islam is dumb and primarily for morons
Terry Gain says
Islam insults religion.
mortimer says
Raif Badawi is a great hero of human rights and the freedom of expression. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for volunteering to become a prisoner of conscience.
Rufolino says
And there are many more political prisoners of Islam who languish alone, unknown, and forgotten.
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
Robert Spencer meets with Ensaf Haidar, wife of Raif Badawi, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for insulting Islam
That’s just like Spencer to have the good character to stand by those who suffer under islam. He knows all too well himself what it’s like to suffer at the hands of certain muslims and leftist haters who try to smear his good name with falsehoods, like the SPLC. In the midst of all this madness for islam we got a good guy who’s willing to stand for what’s right and who tells the truth about islam’s history of murder and terror for allah. The whole world should be outraged over these injustices, yet bizarrely it’s unfashionable in our PC world to defend human rights against the horrors of islam. The left has control of academia, the press, and most politics. Thank god for Trump, he was the stop-gap we desperately needed to curb the islamic advance and assert some frank truths about islam’s hatred of the West. I’m grateful for Mr. Spencer and the good work he does in educating the world about islam, I’m certain his efforts saves lives and that makes him a hero in my mind. And there are others too, like Anne Waters, and Geert Wilders, and Tommy Robinson, and Pam Geller, they are also heroes to me. It’s insane that in this “modern” world a man or woman can be imprisoned or killed for not “submitting” to an ignorant and violent superstition like islam. But the sad truth is thousands die every year for it and millions suffer under its brutal oppression. And it’s people like the ones I mentioned that care enough to do something about it with their courage and brains. And I’ll do my part too, give money and speak in defense of freedom against islamic aggression every chance I get. If enough of us pitch in maybe we can beat this thing, and somehow convince muslims that their bigoted 7th century cult of death has no place in our future.
James Lincoln says
Agostino Armo Pellegrini,
You stated:
“I’ll do my part too, give money and speak in defense of freedom against Islamic aggression every chance I get.”
Fantastic! All Jihad Watch readers need to do the same!
I will personally beef up my donations to the anti-jihad cause.
Agostino Armo Pellegrini says
Fantastic! Thanks for caring. We aren’t just “fans,” we’re activists. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Islam’s war against our peace and human rights for a demon is probably the greatest threat against humanity comparable to the threat of nuclear war. I’m proud to do my little part. Peace. 🙂
Terry Gain says
It’s insane that in this “modern” world a man or woman can be imprisoned or killed for not “submitting” to an ignorant and violent superstition like islam.
…………..
Well said.
Canada? says
Robert,
Thank you for your courage and guided faith.
I want to know why around close to a hundred men this afternoon were at a Mosgue at Liccoln and Wyandotte. Windsor Canada.
Are they there to,,,,,,,,,,,
#1. Finally denounce the evil cult of Islam because they now know the truth about their Allah. Mo, Curly and the Devil.
#2. Converge to create more of same.
#3.
Billy Chickens says
I hate Islam.
na says
American tech companies are allowed to advertise terrorist profiles like Jaishe Muhammad. No surprise what is the motivation!!! I have been told these are the propaganda and agenda of the ruling class and dictators. Prejudice is a better idea even though that is not practical. Twitter is owned by ……………
gravenimage says
Robert Spencer meets with Ensaf Haidar, wife of Raif Badawi, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for insulting Islam
…………………..
Kudos to Robert Spencer for exposing this appalling case. Too few in the West know anything about it.
Billy Chickens says
I know about it and it makes me sick. That beautiful man being so mistreated – to put it mildly – in a filthy islamic prison for telling the truth. And now his sister is also there.
Islam is filth. I hate it. It is to be hated with all one’s strength just as we are to hate evil and the devil for it came from the devil. Really – satan does exist. Islam is the proof.
eduardo odraude says
How long will the Saudi leaders get away with murdering people for thinking differently? When will they be brought to justice?
Terry Gain says
How long before the Left even begins to understand the oppression it is embracing?
A David Darman says
Terry,
How do you define leftist? Please try to do it without using the word “Islam.” I ask that because I see much circular reassoning here. Anyone who fails to condemn Islam is labeled a lefitst. Then, a leftist is simply defined as one who fails to condem Islam.
John Duffin says
Isn’t the UN’s understanding of the definition of ‘Human Rights’ is Sharia??