I condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s public flogging of Raif Badawi. This cruel form of punishment, carried out in full public view, is inhumane, a human rights violation and a breach of the international human rights commitments Saudi Arabia has entered into. All Raif Badawi did was to make use of his right to freedom of opinion by setting up a website for public debate. And for that he is being so brutally punished.

I appeal to the Government of Saudi Arabia to observe fundamental human rights and to refrain from carrying out the rest of the sentence.