VERY URGENT on this International Day of Human Rights.
by Ensaf Haidar.
Raif Badawi has today began a hunger strike as The Saudi Prison administration has transferred him to a new isolated prison.
The prison administration has transferred Raif to the notorious ‘Dhahran Central’, located in a deserted and isolated area – around 87 km from Jeddah City.
This prison is designed for prisoners whose verdicts have been confirmed with a final Adjudication. The Saudi government has repeatedly declared that Raif’s case is under review and is yet to be decided by the Supreme Court.
We express our surprise at this decision especially after the Swiss Secretary of Foreign Affairs Yves Rossier announcement on 28 November that a royal pardon is in the works. And we are very alarmed at the prison administration decision to transfer Raif to the Dhahran Central and fear it may lead to the resumption of his flogging.
As a result of this decision, Raif started on Tuesday a hunger trike and we hold the prison administration responsible for any harm that Raif may suffer.
We take this opportunity to call on his Majesty King Salman to act on his promises and pardon my husband, end his and his family’s ordeal and unite him with his wife and children.