Solidarity with Badawi
January 16, 2015
Angela Merkel has again vowed to protect Muslims living in Germany from prejudice, but she also stressed: "religious freedom and tolerance doesn't mean that sharia law stands above the constitution."
If Merkel were not the German chancellor, but a citizen of Saudi Arabia, this statement could likely earn her a draconian punishment - just like Raif Badawi. The Saudi blogger was sentenced to 1,000 lashes as well as 10 years in prison and a hefty fine for what was deemed an "insult" to Islam.
Who is insulting Islam?
In reality, it is his sentence that is an insult to Islam and something that damages its image.
Badawi's "crime" was taking the liberty to express an opinion that resonates not just in the West, but also with many Muslims, and not only those in Europe. Badawi took issue with the lack of separation of religion and state in his country. And he "dared" to put Islam on equal footing with Christianity, Judaism and freedom of religion.
When Badawi received the first 50 lashes last Friday (Jan. 9), it merited little more than a marginal comment in many western media outlets. Everyone was looking to Paris, everyone was condemning terrorism and defending freedom of speech, everyone was busy proclaiming "Je suis Charlie." Nobody organized a mass protest for Badawi, even though, like the murdered cartoonists, he did nothing more than exercise his right to express an opinion.
Only a few human rights activists and left-wing columnists declared: "I'm not just Charlie, I'm also Raif!" The solidarity from the Arab world has unfortunately also left a lot to be desired. There are a few supporters, but there too, most intellectuals and activists have been consumed with Charlie Hebdo and the Mohammed cartoons.
Backing the wrong people
A public outcry is what was needed – precisely in the West. Badawi is not being tortured by some militant terror cell, but rather in a highly official manner by the state justice system of a supposed "partner." A state where, in addition to lashings, beheadings are also a common method of punishment. The fact that such a regime is regarded as an equal partner in the international fight against terrorism is the ultimate hypocrisy. It's not the corrupt Saudi kingdom that deserves our support, but activists, like Raif Badawi.