Special Report (Wrongful Convictions): Collective action vital for change

SINCE its foundation in 1961, Amnesty International has worked to free prisoners of conscience, victims of torture, and those facing the death penalty.

Our 7m members worldwide mobilise to pressure governments who insist on imprisoning those who dare to disagree with them or who persist in ‘show trials’ with no due process, which is a human right.

Raif Badawi is one such prisoner of conscience. He is in jail in Saudi Arabia after having been flogged 50 times in a public square in Jeddah. Raif’s sentence is to receive 1,000 lashes in public and to remain in prison for 10 years. His crime? Raif set up a blog called Free Saudi Liberals to open up discussion of the political direction of his home country.