Raif Badawi flogging condemned by City of Montreal

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre willintroduce a motion at city council on Monday that condemns the flogging of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi and asks for him to be sent to Quebec.

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Badawiis currently in jail in Saudi Arabia, serving a 10-year sentence for crimes related to criticizing Islam on an internet blog.

He was also sentenced to receive 1,000 lashes, to be delivered in weekly batches of 50.

He was flogged for the first time on Jan. 9. However, the next six flogging sessions were postponed.

Meanwhile, Badawi's wifeEnsafHaidar and their three childrenare refugees living in Sherbrooke, Que.

Haidar said she was pleased with the motion and that she would be meeting with Coderreon Monday to discuss how to bring her husband home.

Coderreand Southwest borough mayor Benoit Doraiswill sponsora motioncondemning his detention and asking Canada to lobby for Badawi's release.

The motion asks for Canada to do whatever it can to reunite Badawi with his family in Quebec.

It comes after the Feb. 11 motion passed unanimously in Quebec's National Assemblycalling on the governments of Quebec and Canada to do everything possible to secure Badawis freedom.