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Saudi Arabia rejects interference in blogger case

Xinhua, June 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Saudi foreign ministry rejected on Thursday criticism made by some countries and international organizations on the arrest of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, Saudi Press Agency reported.

"The judiciary in the country is independent and any interference in the internal affairs of Saudi Arabia by any side is rejected," the ministry said.

On Tuesday, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said Badawi suffered a "medieval" punishment.

Badawi, a writer and the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals, was arrested in 2012 on charge of insulting Islam through electronic channels.

He was brought to court on several charges including apostasy, and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes in 2013, then resentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison plus a fine in 2014.

Those who are against his conviction has launched a campaign, supported by the international press, highlighting fear that the writer might receive his second set of lashes on Friday.

The ministry hasn't confirmed or denied those reports.

Saudi Arabia, a conservative Sunni state, followed the Islamic punishments that are stated in Quran such as beheading and lashes for certain crimes. Endit