Alexandra ZavisContact Reporter
A Saudi Arabian blogger, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes, was awarded the European Union’s top human rights prize Thursday in a gesture of support for freedom of expression in the conservative kingdom.
The harsh penalties imposed on Raif Badawi for starting a website carrying content critical of the Saudi religious establishment sparked outrage in the West, where human rights groups have campaigned for his release.
“In the case of Mr. Badawi, fundamental rights are not only not being respected, they are being trodden underfoot,” European Parliament President Martin Schulz said when he announced the awarding of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in Strasbourg, France.
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