Update: Raif was flogged this morning

Act Now Raif Badawi Raif Badawi was lashed 50 times this morning despite a global outcry. Raif was unfairly sentenced to 10 years and 1,000 lashes in Saudi Arabia for publishing a website that encourages social and political debate, and Amnesty International has named him a Prisoner of Conscience. Let Raif's jailers know that we won't give up. Demand an end to any future floggings and call for Raif's immediate and unconditional release. Dear Tracy, I am sickened and saddened to share the news that, despite a powerful global outcry, Raif Badawi was flogged this morning after morning prayers in Jeddah. An eyewitness shared his account of Raif's brutal flogging with Amnesty. It's almost too difficult to read. "Raif was escorted from a bus and placed in the middle of the crowd, guarded by eight or nine officers. He was handcuffed and shackled but his face was not covered - everyone could see his face... A security officer approached him from behind with a huge cane and started beating him. Raif raised his head towards the sky, closing his eyes and arching his back. He was silent, but you could tell from his face and his body that he was in real pain. The officer beat Raif on his back and legs, counting the lashes until they reached 50. The punishment took about 5 minutes. It was very quick, with no break in between lashes." Saudi Arabian authorities' decision to inflict such a vicious, cruel form of punishment on a nonviolent activist like Raif is shocking. But it is imperative that we neither look away from such cruelty, nor be shocked into silence. Raif's ordeal is only beginning - he is scheduled to be flogged another 950 times over the next 19 weeks. This means that our work as activists is also just beginning. In response to the Saudi authorities' brutality, we must strengthen our call. Join me in demanding that Raif is not flogged again and call for his immediate release. According to the final court decision against Raif Badawi, he could be lashed another 50 times at any point over the next two weeks. Let's make the authorities hear us. With hope for justice, Jasmine Heiss Senior Campaigner, Individuals at Risk Amnesty International USA P.S. – If you, like me, want to express your outrage directly to the Saudi embassy, you can reach an embassy official at (202) 342-3800, Press 2 for English, then 0 for the operator. If the operator is not available, you can also try 3 for Public Affairs. You might say something like this: My name is Tracy and I am profoundly disturbed by the flogging of Raif Badawi. Flogging is a flagrant violation of the prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment in international law. I urge you to prevent any future flogging of Raif Badawi, and to release him immediately and unconditionally.