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

Behind Manitoba's Political Revolt: How A Cabinet Revolt Erupted, Putting Selinger On The Ropes

WINNIPEG - It wasn't apparent at the time, but Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger started down the path to the internal NDP revolt that now threatens his political future on Easter Weekend in March 2013.

Behind Manitoba's Political Revolt: How A Cabinet Revolt Erupted, Putting Selinger On The Ropes

Facing Assault: Snarling Selfies Poke Fun At Kinder Morgan Claim Dirty Looks Harm

VANCOUVER — Bulging eyes, scrunched noses, bared teeth — anti-oil pipeline protesters are facing off against energy giant Kinder Morgan with the meanest mugs they can muster.

Facing Assault: Snarling Selfies Poke Fun At Kinder Morgan Claim Dirty Looks Harm

B.C. First Nation Considers Growing Medical Marijuana On Its Reserve

VANCOUVER — When Elaine Alec started door knocking in her First Nation community to ask families and respected elders if they would approve of an on-reserve medical marijuana grow-op, she braced herself for the worst.

B.C. First Nation Considers Growing Medical Marijuana On Its Reserve

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Meets With Chinese President Xi Jinping

BEIJING — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday he's raised a litany of concerns with the Chinese in his meetings with the Communist country's leadership over the past few days, insisting he's only forging closer ties with China to benefit Canada.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper Meets With Chinese President Xi Jinping

From Battlefields To Buttonholes, The Poppy Is A Powerful Symbol Of Remembrance

Pinning small red and black poppies onto clothing in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day may be a simple gesture, but it's one that carries great significance.

From Battlefields To Buttonholes, The Poppy Is A Powerful Symbol Of Remembrance

China, Canada to boost relations

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Saturday decided to boost their countries' bilateral relations and cooperation...