Foreign Affairs minister insists Saudi Arabia show clemency, permit Raif Badawi to come to Canada

Federal Foreign Affairs Stphane Dion says the government is still trying to confirmreports thatSaudi Arabia is poised to resume lashing Raif Badawi, urging the Saudi government toallow the dissident writer to join his family in Sherbrooke, Que.

In a statement released Monday, theRaifBadawiFoundation said it had received word from a"private source" thatthe Saudi government will resume the lashing punishment.

"Our understanding of the information is that another series of lashes ...will take place, this timeinside the prison," the statement said.

"If it's true, it is shameful," Dion told reporters. "One doesn't treat a human being this way."

He said Canada is using diplomatic channels to condemn the Saudi government's treatment of Badawi, but because the human rights activist and blogger is not a Canadian citizen, it can only appeal to Saudi authorities on humanitarian grounds.

Badawi's wife, EnsafHaidar,and children were granted political asylum in Canada in 2013 and live in Sherbrooke.

"The Canadian government invites, indeed, insists that the Saudi Arabian government and the king show clemency and permit Mr. Badawi to join his family here in Canada," Dion said.

National Assembly adopts motion of support

Earlier Tuesday, Quebec'sNationalAssemblyunanimously adopted a motion denouncingSaudiArabia's apparent intentiontoresume Badawi's lashings, calling on Quebec and Canada to do everything possible to secure the 32-year-old's freedom.

In 2014,Badawiwas found guiltyof insulting Islamic values,"promoting liberal thought" and "going beyond the realm of obedience" by suggesting on hiswebsitethat the Saudi kingdom should become more democratic.

Hewas sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes. He also faces a hefty fine.

He received the first 50 in January 2015 but is not believed to have had any since.

• RaifBadawi's wife accepts prestigious Sakharov Prize for human rights