Today’s blog is in honour of Raif Badawi. For those of you who haven’t yet heard of him, Raif is a Saudi. He is a blogger who tried to encourage discussion about religious and political matters. He was found guilty of insulting the clerics of Islam and therefore Islam itself. His sentence: 10 years imprisonment, a fine of about AU$330, 500 (give or take a dollar) and 1,000 lashes given 50 lashes at a time, every Friday for 20 weeks. He’s been held in jail since mid 2012 and had the first bout of lashes on Friday, January 9 this year. So far he’s still waiting for the next lot because the doctors have declared him unfit. They want him strong and healthy so they can beat him again. Nice.
Thank God for Australia and western democracy. Here in the Great South Land I’m free to disagree, free to think for myself. I can say that I’m disgusted with my government’s asylum seeker policies, without fear of reprisal. I can question religious ideology, of whatever persuasion, without fear of torture or any physical harm. And, I have done so on more than one occasion. So far the worst that has happened is that a few of my Facebook friends have de-friended me. (I can live with that.)
I find it extraordinary that the King of Saudi Arabia publicly voiced his condemnation of the terrorists who attacked Charlie Hebdo and the right of free speech in France, even marching with other world leaders to show his solidarity with them on this matter. At the same time he is quite happy for one of his own citizens to be punished while trying to exercise that same right. The justification for Raif Badawi’s sentence is the same Sharia law that the terrorists used to excuse their actions. Does anyone else think there is a degree of hypocrisy happening here, a bit of double standards, or is it just me?
When the planet finally gets its act together and switches to reliance on energy other than that derived from fossil fuels, then Saudi Arabia will find it no longer has the power to throw its weight around. Meanwhile, free thinkers like Mr Badawi will have to seriously consider emigrating. (Of course, if they want to come to a place like Australia, they’d better catch a plane. We all know what will happen to them if they try to seek asylum in a boat.)
So, today, I’m declaring: Je suis Raif Badawi. Who’s standing with me?
Moi ausi! Don’t think that is spelled correctly. French for: me also!
If we cannot defend the right for others to disagree with us how can we claim that we have a free society?
I don’t know who said: I don’t agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. But I agree with that!
I am happy for someone to hold an opinion that is opposed to mine as long as there is a respect and logic to the statement of that opinion, I get angry when they state their opinion in an offensive and insulting way e.g. name calling & using swear words. Sometimes we have to agree to disagree!
I’ve only read some of Raif Badawi’s words but he came across as intelligent, polite and respectful towards his country and culture. He was simply suggesting that unless Saudi Arabia lighten and broaden their attitudes towards speech and thought, many Arabic thinkers (academics etc) will be forced to leave the country. He challenged aspects of their culture but, I thought, in a reasoned and sensitive manner. Very different to how people would have gone about it, here. Unfortunately, it was enough to earn the ire of the Imams and hence his barbaric sentence. Islamic countries have a very different view of what constitutes freedom of speech. You’re free to say what you like as long as it is in line with their religious and cultural views. I agree with you. Freedom of speech and thought, in our culture, is far more open and forgiving, provided it doesn’t incite hatred of or violence towards another person or people’s group – which is as it should be.