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

BC Ferries Expects To Save Millions By Converting Largest Vessels To Lng By 2018

VICTORIA — BC Ferries plans to convert its two largest vessels to liquefied natural gas in an effort to save fuel costs after sinking $126 million into marine diesel fuel last year.

BC Ferries Expects To Save Millions By Converting Largest Vessels To Lng By 2018

Kamloops Man On Trial For Murder Admits Killing Wife, But Says She Was Attacking Him

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A British Columbia man charged with second-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend admits he killed her, but says it was an accident that happened during a drug-fuelled fight.

Kamloops Man On Trial For Murder Admits Killing Wife, But Says She Was Attacking Him

BC Court Rules Part Of Dangerous-offender Scheme Violates Charter

VANCOUVER — A B.C. judge has ruled the Conservative government's changes to the dangerous-offender regime violate the charter, but it's not yet clear whether the law will be struck down.

BC Court Rules Part Of Dangerous-offender Scheme Violates Charter

Man Fatally Dead Shot Dead by Vancouver Police Identified

VANCOUVER — The B.C. Coroners Service has identified a man who was fatally shot during an encounter with Vancouver police.

Man Fatally Dead Shot Dead by Vancouver Police Identified

Short-term Action Required In Mount Polley Tailings Pond Clean-up: Government

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. — A government progress report into a voluminous wastewater spill at a south-central B.C. gold and copper mine calls for quick completion of human health and environmental risk assessments.