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

Vancouver's Mayor Prepares For Judgment Over Aggressive Progressive Agenda

VANCOUVER — Polls have closed in Vancouver's civic election, which threatens to unseat the current mayor over complaints he has moved too aggressively on issues such as bike lanes and social housing without listening to the public.

Vancouver's Mayor Prepares For Judgment Over Aggressive Progressive Agenda

Linda Hepner To Be The New Mayor Of Surrey

The Surrey First candidate pulled a decisively victory against main challengers, Doug McCallum (Safe Surrey Coalition) and Barinder Rasode (One Surrey).

Linda Hepner To Be The New Mayor Of Surrey

PM Stephen Harper At G20 Tells Putin To Get 'Get Out Of Ukraine'

BRISBANE, Australia - Stephen Harper had a showdown with Vladimir Putin on Saturday, telling the Russian leader to "get out of Ukraine" in a dustup at the Group of 20 summit in Australia.

PM Stephen Harper At G20 Tells Putin To Get 'Get Out Of Ukraine'

Embattled Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger Wins A Round

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's embattled premier, Greg Selinger, has won a round in the battle over his leadership.

Embattled Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger Wins A Round

Hassan Diab Extradited to France, Charged With Murder

PARIS - Hassan Diab was charged with first-degree murder and other offences in France on Saturday after being extradited in connection with a decades-old terrorism case, and his lawyer says the former Ottawa sociology professor is ready to prove in court there is no real evidence against him.

Hassan Diab Extradited to France, Charged With Murder

Vancouver's Mayor Faces Close Election

VANCOUVER — Residents in Vancouver vote today in an election that has turned out to be a tight race between the city's current mayor and an opponent who had little public profile before the campaign.