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Saudi bloggger Raif Badawi has been awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament .

.@raif_badawi wins the #SakharovPrize #FreeRaif #bloggingisnotacrime pic.twitter.com/Q09bOSbw23
— ECR Group (@ecrgroup) October 29, 2015

Badawi has drawn international support since 2012 when he was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, fined approximately $267,000 and given 10 years in prison for "insulting Islam."

Parliament President Martin Schulz said "I call on the Saudi king to immediately free him. Relations depend on human rights being respected by our partners... they are not only not being respected but are being trodden underfoot," according to BBC.

My statement on the awarding of the 2015 #SakharovPrize to @raif_badawi pic.twitter.com/2wlglOnqEJ
— EP President (@EP_President) October 29, 2015

In January, Badawi received the first 50 lashes but since then, the punishment has been postponed.

.@Europarl_EN awards #SakharovPrize 2015 to @raif_badawi. RT to support https://t.co/gWhJNJE8Ei pic.twitter.com/stWN2zyJ22
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) October 29, 2015

Saudi Arabia's supreme court upheld the ruling in June despite the international outcry. According to reports, Badawi's wife has said the lashings are set to resume soon.

Earlier this month, Badawi also was awarded the Pen Pinter Prize for freedom of speech.

BBC News - Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi wins Pen Pinter prize http://t.co/5ewLUtfWMi
— Robert Ozn (@RobertOzn1) October 8, 2015

While all this international attention supporting Badawi is great, will the government of Saudi Arabia listen?

Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi wins EU Sakharov human rights prize. My interview with his wife: https://t.co/BFQ1jBI8zc
— Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) October 29, 2015

European Parliament awards Raif Badawi with top human rights prize

Badawi has drawn international attention since he was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and given 10 years in prison for "insulting Islam."

Saudi bloggger Raif Badawi has been awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament .

Parliament President Martin Schulz said "I call on the Saudi king to immediately free him. Relations depend on human rights being respected by our partners... they are not only not being respected but are being trodden underfoot," according to BBC.

In January, Badawi received the first 50 lashes but since then, the punishment has been postponed.

Earlier this month, Badawi also was awarded the Pen Pinter Prize for freedom of speech.

While all this international attention supporting Badawi is great, will the government of Saudi Arabia listen?

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European Parliament awards Raif Badawi with top human rights prize

Badawi has drawn international attention since he was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and given 10 years in prison for "insulting Islam."

Saudi bloggger Raif Badawi has been awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament .

Parliament President Martin Schulz said "I call on the Saudi king to immediately free him. Relations depend on human rights being respected by our partners... they are not only not being respected but are being trodden underfoot," according to BBC.

In January, Badawi received the first 50 lashes but since then, the punishment has been postponed.

Earlier this month, Badawi also was awarded the Pen Pinter Prize for freedom of speech.

While all this international attention supporting Badawi is great, will the government of Saudi Arabia listen?

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