Blogger loses appeal against lashes

A court in Saudi Arabia has upheld the decision to sentence liberal blogger Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes.

Despite condemnation from governments and human rights charities around the world, Badawi was arrested in 2012, charged and ultimately sentenced for “insulting Islam through electronic channels”.

Speaking from Canada, his wife Ensaf Haidar told news agency AFP, “this is a final decision that is irrevocable.”