Pardon Raif Badawi

Floor Speech

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I stand today on behalf of Saudi Arabian blogger Raif Badawi.

In 2014, Saudi Arabian authorities sentenced Raif to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for his liberal writings and support for secularism. Today is Raif's 1,425th day in prison. He has been publicly flogged 50 times, and his wife and children, fearful for their safety, have had to abandon their country for Canada.

But Raif is not a criminal. He is a champion of freedom of thought and expression in a kingdom whose rulers fear both.

This week President Obama will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council. When the President sees King Salman, he should urge him to pardon Raif and allow him to join his wife and three children in Canada.

I seek the full support of Congress and the Obama administration in urging the Saudi Arabian Government to free Raif and all other prisoners of conscience like him, as befits any government with a seat on the U.N. Human Rights Council.

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