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In Honor of Human Rights Day, Free Raif Badawi

Floor Speech

Date: Dec. 8, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, December 10 is recognized around the world as Human Rights Day.

This year marks the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In that spirit, I am here today to call on the Government of Saudi Arabia to release blogger and human rights activist Raif Badawi.

In 2014, Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for operating a website that encouraged debate on religious and political issues in his country.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is claiming to be a reformer intent on modernizing Saudi Arabia. Raif Badawi's case plainly disproves that claim.

Raif Badawi will soon celebrate his 37th birthday in prison, the ninth birthday he will have spent away from his wife and children.

Mr. Speaker, the Saudi Government must immediately and unconditionally release Raif Badawi and all other Saudi prisoners of conscience.

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