9 January 2018, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm
At the Curzon Street entrance to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mayfair, London

On 9 January, English PEN and Reporters Without Borders will hold a special lunchtime vigil at the Saudi Embassy in London to mark three years since Raif Badawi was first flogged.  Please join us between 1-2pm, even if just for a few minutes on your lunchbreak, to show the Saudi authorities we will not forget him. Activists are asked to meet at the Curzon Street entrance to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mayfair, London (note: the postal address of the Embassy is 30-32 Charles Street).

The vigil will be co-sponsored by other organisations active on Raif Badawi’s case including Amnesty International UK, Bread and Roses TV, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, International Humanist and Ethical Union – IHEU, and One Law For All.

Three years ago, on 9 January 2015, reports emerged that the imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi had been flogged in Saudi Arabia. Although Badawi had been arrested in June 2012 and sentenced almost two years later – to ten years in prison and 1000 lashes – it was the brutal public flogging that took place that January morning, covert footage of which began to make its way around the world, that forced the international community to pay any real attention to his plight.

TAKE ACTION

Join our vigil

On 9 January, English PEN and Reporters Without Border will hold a special lunchtime vigil at the Saudi Embassy in London to mark three years since Raif Badawi was flogged. Please join us between 1-2pm (even if just for a few minutes on your lunchbreak!) to show the Saudi authorities we will not forget him. Let us know if you’re coming and please invite your friends.

The vigil will be co-sponsored by other organisations active on Raif Badawi’s case including Amnesty International UK, Bread and Roses TV, the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, International Humanist and Ethical Union – IHEU, and One Law For All.

Send a card

PEN’s annual Season’s Greetings initiative encourages members and supporters to send messages to writers at risk around the world and their families. #PENgreetings

Ask your MP for their support

Write to your MP urging them to support this Early Day Motion for Raif Badawi’s release via https://www.writetothem.com/

Spread the word

Share details of Raif Badawi’s case on social media #FreeRaif