Saudi Arabia arrests well known activist
Saudi Arabia arrests well known activist Samar Badawi
Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama bestowed an International Women of Courage Award on Human Rights Activist Samar Badawi back in 2012 for her stance against the Saudi Government.
That courage was placed to the test when she was arrested on January 12 and placed in Dhaban prison, the same facility as her activist brother, Raif Badawi.
Her husband, Waleed al-Khair, an activist lawyer, is serving a 15 year sentence.
Twitter photo- Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton give a Women of Courage award to Samar Badawi in 2012
Freedom of expression?
Yahoo News wrote,
Samar Badawi was arrested in Jidda Tuesday morning and taken, along with her 2-year-old daughter, to a police station for questioning over postings she made on the Twitter account of her imprisoned husband, a human rights lawyer, according to a report on her arrest by Amnesty International.
She was then transferred to a local prison and is due to appear before a prosecutor Wednesday.
Released on Bail
Badawi was released on bail Wednesday, with the promise to return to court tomorrow, January 14.
RT reported,
The detention appears to be connected with Samar’s running a campaign for release of her former husband Waleed Abu al-Khair and particularly publishing a photo of him in jail. Al-Khair was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his work as a human rights lawyer.
Messy connections
Hillary Clinton is between a rock and hard place over this arrest. David Adams, a former assistant secretary of legislative affairs under Clinton, was just hired to lobby for the Saudi government. Then there’s the Obama administration who walks that fine line between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shi’ite) in international interactions. Will they stand with her when push comes to shove?
#SmarBadwai sandwiched between @FLOTUS & @HillaryClinton & now #Saudi Monarchy prison. Will you call for her freedom pic.twitter.com/VR8kXYx4Od
— Ali AlAhmed (@AliAlAhmed_en) January 12, 2016
#Samar_Badawi released but must report to police station on 14th January via @HussainMJawad @foreignoffice pic.twitter.com/Rf41xifiAH
— Marji Finlay (@Marji264) January 13, 2016
“#Samar_Badawi: 1st woman to sue for being prevented from marrying man of her choice, Saudi gov’t for right to vote in muncipal elections.”
— Leigh Naturkach (@LeighNaturkach) January 13, 2016
Urgent Saudi authorities arrested Raif’s sister #Samar_Badawi her change is managing her husband’s account Samar and Raif at the same place!
— Raif Badawi (@raif_badawi) January 12, 2016
Urgent: #Samar_Badawi was arrested on the charge of directing @WaleedAbulkhair twitter account. pic.twitter.com/GW1Jjwt6K2
— Ensaf haidar (@miss9afi) January 12, 2016
Sister of jailed blogger Raif Badawi also detained in Saudi Arabia https://t.co/CQmTHNzWTf
— Cat A Lyst (@icecat100) January 12, 2016
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