National

Politicians call on Ottawa to help secure release of Saudi blogger

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 13 Jan, 2015 10:52 AM

MONTREAL — Several politicians are calling on Ottawa and Quebec to help secure the freedom of a Saudi blogger who was flogged 50 times last week after being convicted of insulting Islam.

Raif Badawi's wife and children live in Quebec.

Representatives of the federal NDP, the Parti Quebecois and Quebec solidaire held a news conference in Montreal this morning urging Ottawa and Quebec to do more to help free Badawi.

Badawi was sentenced last May to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes after he criticized Saudi Arabia's powerful clerics on a liberal blog he founded.

International Development Minister Christian Paradis was asked about Badawi at a news conference in Quebec City today and said the case is complicated because he is not a Canadian citizen.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Ottawa posts $400M surplus for September compared with $3.8B deficit a year ago

OTTAWA — The federal government posted a $400-million surplus for September compared with a $3.8-billion deficit in the same month last year.

Ottawa posts $400M surplus for September compared with $3.8B deficit a year ago

No immediate decision on convicted robocaller Michael Sona's bid for bail

TORONTO — The former Conservative staffer convicted in the 2011 robocalls scandal will have to spend another few days in jail before learning if he'll be granted bail pending an appeal of his sentence.

No immediate decision on convicted robocaller Michael Sona's bid for bail

Premiers Wynne, Prentice agree to meet to discuss Energy East pipeline project

TORONTO — Concerns raised by Central Canada over the proposed Energy East pipeline project should not deteriorate into provincial infighting, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said Thursday after a telephone chat with Alberta Premier Jim Prentice.

Premiers Wynne, Prentice agree to meet to discuss Energy East pipeline project

Over half of Canadians surveyed in poll love the Grey Cup but fewer will watch

More than half the Canadians who took part in a recent online survey agreed the Grey Cup is an important national symbol but less than half that number plan on watching the big game and younger Canadians are even less inclined.

Over half of Canadians surveyed in poll love the Grey Cup but fewer will watch

Man finally freed a decade after wrongful first-degree murder conviction

TORONTO — A man convicted of first-degree murder more than a decade ago was finally exonerated Friday after the Crown announced it would not prosecute him again.