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

Man Stabbed to Death in Vancouver Building Lobby, Richmond Man Arrested

Police were initially searching for the suspect after being called to a west side Vancouver apartment building around 6:30 a.m. on reports of a fight.

Man Stabbed to Death in Vancouver Building Lobby, Richmond Man Arrested

'Murder for lobster' case begins in Nova Scotia with Crown opening arguments

PORT HAWKESBURY, N.S. — A Cape Breton man was dragged out to sea with a gaff and tied to an aluminum anchor after he was shot and his boat was rammed three times, the Crown said as a murder trial got underway Thursday.

'Murder for lobster' case begins in Nova Scotia with Crown opening arguments

B.C. Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Using Hammers Begins Murder Trial

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — A Kamloops jury has viewed video of a man telling an undercover police officer that he bashed his girlfriend on the head upwards of 60 times with a mallet and sledgehammer before packing her body in a cooler.

B.C. Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Using Hammers Begins Murder Trial

Winnipeg teen beaten, sexually assaulted eager to return to school: mother

WINNIPEG — The mother of a 16-year-old who was viciously attacked, sexually assaulted and left for dead in downtown Winnipeg says the teen is getting better and is anxious to return to school.

Winnipeg teen beaten, sexually assaulted eager to return to school: mother

Video Of A Vancouver Homeless Man Being Goaded Into Setting His Hair On Fire Sparks Outrage

VANCOUVER — An online video of a Vancouver homeless man being goaded into setting his hair on fire has sparked outrage, though police are not currently investigating the incident.