Saudi Arabia Delays Blogger's Lashes Again

Amnesty International says authorities in Saudi Arabia have delayed the planned flogging of a blogger convicted of insulting Islam for a third straight week in the face of growing international pressure against the punishment. An AI rep says the London-based rights group confirmed today's planned flogging of 31-year-old Raif Badawi did not take place, but it was unclear why. Amnesty has followed Badawi's case closely and is campaigning for his release.

Badawi's public flogging Jan. 9 in Jiddah attracted international condemnation. He was scheduled to receive 50 lashes a week for 20 weeks, but his floggings have now been postponed for the past three weeks. Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haidar, lives as a refugee in Quebec, Canada. She said yesterday her husband cannot endure another flogging. Click to read more on the case.