Canadians celebrate Father’s Day too, but the family of Raif Badawi? Probably not.
This month marks the four-year anniversary of the young blogger’s arrest in Saudi Arabia. I first learned about Raif’s plight back in February of 2015, empathizing because he was a writer.
But then photos of his young children began to surface.
Raif was 28 years old when he was torn from his family, and to date, the 32-year-old father of three is still imprisoned.
Today, Father’s Day, marks four years that have passed since the last time the young writer had the opportunity to wrestle with his children –Terad, Najwa, and Miriyam — or to hug his wife Ensaf Haidar. His crime? Encouraging political and social debate using an online forum.
Read excerpts of his writings online at The Guardian, or purchase his book, 1000 Lashes Because I Say What I Think from Amazon.
Even better, join the voices that call for his release by reading more about Raif’s story at Amnesty International and then letting your heart lead you on a Twitter or letter-writing expedition, or sign the petition here.
To date, Raif has used up all of his appeals, and his only hope for release now lies with a royal pardon by King Salmon bin Abdulaziz.
In December of last year, hopes were raised when word trickled out of Saudi Arabia that Raif was about to be pardoned. Instead, he was moved to a secluded detention facility where offenders are sent when their sentences are deemed final.
He remains there still as reports of ill health and repeated hunger strikes trickle back to his family.
On January 9, 2015, Raif was publicly flogged after morning prayers outside a Jeddah mosque. He has 950 lashes to go.
Tonight, as you tuck your kids into bed after Father’s Day spent together as a family, think of Raif and of his wife and of his three small children, and then hug your own kiddos especially tight.
Some dads won’t have that privilege this Father’s Day.
The post No Father’s Day for Raif Badawi appeared first on An Unedited Life.