A Saudi Arabian judge has recommended that Raif Badawi, an imprisoned blogger, go before a high court to face an apostasy charge, which would carry the death penalty if convicted, CNN reported. Ensaf Haidar, Badawi's wife, "initially told CNN on Wednesday that her husband had been sentenced to death. She later later clarified that a judge... recommended he be tried for denouncing Islam," the network reported on its site.
A Jedda criminal court in July found Badawi guilty of insulting Islam through his Free Saudi Liberals website and in television comments, CNN also reported. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes. His lawyers appealed the decision. Badawi has been in prison since June 2012.
Badawi's situation "is a clear case of intimidation against him and others who seek to engage in open debates about the issues that Saudi Arabians face in their daily lives," according to Amnesty International.
Saudi Arabian clerics have already branded Badawi as an unbeliever and apostate.
"This incredibly harsh sentence for a peaceful blogger makes a mockery of Saudi Arabia's claims that it supports reform and religious dialogue," added Nadim Houry in July. Houry is the deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.
Human Rights Watch have been seeking Badawi's release for over a year.
"Saudi authorities should drop charges and release the editor of the Free Saudi Liberals website for violating his right to freedom of expression on matters of religion and religious figures," read an HRW statement.
