All Members of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons voted in favor of a motion to “demand” that jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, whose wife Ensaf Haidar lives in Canada, be given Canadian citizenship. The motion, introduced by the Bloc Québécois, is non-binding, but it puts a moral pressure on Saudi Arabia as it shines the spotlight on its detaining of dissidents, all while broadcasting to the world that it is reforming. In the case of Badawi, the motion may serve as a deterrent to his further abuse, and renews hope for his release. Badawi was sentenced to a decade in jail and 1,000 lashes for writing about free speech and “insulting Islam.”
Some sources fear, however, that the motion “could make things worse” for Badawi. Many people tend to forget that Saudi Arabia not only subscribes to Wahhabism, but has been a global exporter of the Wahhabi ideology. The Saudi regime demonstrates its true essence in its detaining and treatment of dissidents. Concerns remain about the “kingdom’s crushing of dissent, including through the use of the death penalty.”
Raif Badawi received 50 lashes in 2015, and then, amid a global outcry and concerns about his health, his scheduled annual beatings stopped. Last April, Saudi Arabia finally abolished flogging as a punishment, which directly affected Badawi for the good. Skepticism remains, however, about Saudi Arabia’s seriousness about genuinely improving its human rights record beyond posturing. Aliaa Abutayah, a London-based Saudi political activist and opposition leader, stated that “the latest change by the Saudi government in its penal code is a very small change,” and that “the government should also abolish the death penalty, including the practice of executing juveniles.”
Despite the human rights record of Saudi Arabia, the implications of Canada’s motion to grant Badawi citizenship are not entirely clear. Saudi Arabia has also been known to react to pressure from global human rights activists, especially given its ongoing efforts to appear “moderate” before a world audience. So we can hope that the motion will result in a favorable outcome, with the eyes of the world on Saudi Arabia.
“House of Commons passes non-binding motion in favour of Badawi citizenship,” by Lina Dib, Presse Canadienne, January 28, 2021:
OTTAWA — The House of Commons was unanimous Wednesday in voting for a motion demanding Raif Badawi be given Canadian citizenship.
The legislature voted in favour of the Bloc Québécois’s motion to ask the federal immigration, refugee and citizenship minister to offer citizenship to the imprisoned Saudi activist.
In reading his motion, Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet highlighted that minister Marco Mendicino has the discretionary power to award such citizenship since Badawi is in a “particular and unusual state of distress.”
In December 2019, Conservative MPs opposed a similar motion, also presented by the Bloc. Ensaf Haidar, Badawi’s wife, had travelled from Sherbrooke to Ottawa and left disappointed.
On Wednesday, Haidar was elated at the news. “It gives a lot of hope to Raif … to the entire family,” she said. She speaks with Badawi two or three times a week for brief conversations, and she said she would tell him when he next calls about the news, which she said would help his morale.
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But government sources poured cold water on the idea of awarding citizenship to Badawi, saying “we’re not totally convinced that it would improve the situation” and could make things worse for Badawi.
The motion has only moral implications and Mendicino is not obliged to follow it….
mortimer says
The motion is truly a welcome change in Ottawa. Mrs. Bedawi (Ensaf Haidar) already lives in Canada due to the government’s permission. Can it be that the Lib-Jihadists loosening their alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood? Perhaps. Canada’s parliament has 12 Muslim MPs, more than the 8 Jewish MPs.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the most Islamic country in the world. The MPs just admitted without realizing it that Islam crushes freedom of expression.
Jayme says
At the same time Canada is moving forward with regulating Twitter/Facebook etc as well as label any right leaning group as a terrorist org.
LR says
Yeah. Imagine. This amazing man really does believe in free speech. Even willing to go to jail, and suffer for it.
Maybe it will be people like Badawi, along with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, that will be some of the strongest voices to uphold free speech, and condemn cancel culture in the west.
We shall see.
Billy Chickens says
I pray that beautiful man – husband and father – reaches his loved ones safely without too much damage having been done to his person.
L R says
Yes. This is very happy news.
Infidel says
And once Badawi comes to Canada, he can be targeted by local jihadists there, rather than by Riyadh ?
L R says
I am sure he is aware of that. All we can do from far away is hope, and pray for his families protection.
Infidel says
True. And that Canada will one day have a sane government that, in its enthusiasm to welcome immigrants, leaves out people from countries that are on the fringe
somehistory says
His eyes tell a lot about his inner self. We can hope that the move by Canada will have a good outcome for this man and his family.
Sometimes, things backfire, but hopefully, not this time.
Of course, he may have to be careful in Canada when it comes to telling the truth about islam.
very old white guy says
You folks do know that the prime minister is a supporter of islam.
TheNicheActress says
At last, some common sense.