lunes, 2 de marzo de 2015

To King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud


Guatemala, 2 de Marzo de 2015

His Majesty
King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Your Majesty:


PEN Guatemala urges the Saudi Arabian authorities to release Raif Badawi and his lawyer Walid Abu al-Khair immediately and unconditionally as they are being held solely for their peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression;

We call for Raif Badawi’s sentence of flogging to be overturned immediately as it violates the absolute prohibition in international law against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;

Also, we urge the Saudi Arabian authorities not to bring any charge of ‘apostasy’ against Raif Badawi

In the meantime, calling for both men to be granted all necessary medical treatment and access to their families and lawyers of their choice;

Finally, we call on Saudi Arabia to ratify, without reservation, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.