Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi, an Australian-Iraqi Muslim preacher, recently stood in solidarity with Saudi blogger Raif Badawi by offering to take 200 lashes on behalf of the 33-year-old blogger. 

Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes in 2014 for arguing for greater freedom of speech in the kingdom and calling for the secularization of the government. 

Tawhidi - who describes himself as a creationist, educator, speaker, preacher, thinker and researcher - called on Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Justice to accept his offer via Twitter, as per Sharia Law. 

Raif Badawi responds

People on social media were quick to express support

Calling the imam "brave and generous"

Other supporters are wondering if they could take a few lashes on behalf of Badawi, too

"Imam, you the real deal"

"Kind is too small a word"

"What a hero"

Badawi's case is still going strong

Badawi's website 'Free Saudi Liberals' was initially created for the sole purpose of debating political and religious issues in the kingdom. 

In 2012, he was arrested for a number of charges, including insulting Islam and apostasy.

The blogger was then convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes in 2013 but was then re-sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison one year later. 

Since then, an ongoing campaign - led by his wife and human rights activist Ensaf Haidar - has fought to #FreeRaif.

Haidar and the couple's three kids are currently living in exile in Canada. 

She recently urged the newly appointed crown prince Mohammad bin Salman to release her husband from prison. 

In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Haidar asked MBS to "write a new history" by releasing prisoners of conscience. 

She urged MBS to end her husband's ordeal.

"I am respectfully calling on his Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to write a new history in our country and a process of national reconciliation with Saudi prisoners of conscience." 

Badawi's story captured the world's attention, winning human rights awards, including the Prix Voltaire Award "for showing exemplary courage in upholding freedom of speech."

Let's hope #FreeRaif becomes a reality.