The blogger who was jailed and sentenced to 1,000 lashes for 'insulting Islam' was given new hope last night, when it emerged that Saudi Arabia's king would refer his case to the country's supreme court. The Saudi government has not made an official statement regarding Raif Badawi's freedom, but his wife says the king's intervention came before he received the first 50 lashes last Friday. In an interview with the BBC, Ensaf Haidar said: 'Now his case has been passed by the royal office to the Supreme Court, he hopes something will happen soon, perhaps next week.' She had accused the government of killing her husband week by week - as the second round of his punishment was postponed due to 'health reasons'.
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Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes for writing a human rights blog
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The dad-of-three is now being flogged 50 times each Friday for 20 weeks
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His wife says Saudi king referred his case to supreme court before first one
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Ensaf Haidar is now living as a refugee in Canada with their three children
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She fears the floggings may kill Raif, who she has not seen for four years
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Saudi Arabia has accused of 'utter brutality' and 'outrageous inhumanity'
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Latest flogging  postponed on 'medical grounds', say Amnesty International
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WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Amnesty around the world is calling on governments to intervene on behalf of @placeholder, and the other victims of torture in Saudi Arabia.