Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian foreign ministry rejected criticism by some countries and international organisations about the arrest of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“The judiciary is independent in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” a source in the ministry said, adding that “the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not accept any interference in its jurisdiction or internal affairs by any party”.
On Tuesday, Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said Badawi suffered a “medieval” punishment, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Badawi, the creator of the website Free Saudi Liberals, was arrested in 2012 on charges of insulting Islam through electronic channels.
He was brought to court on several charges, including apostasy, and sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes in 2013, then resentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison plus a fine in 2014.
Those who are against his conviction have launched a campaign, supported by the international press, fearing that the writer might receive his second set of lashes on Friday.
The ministry has not confirmed or denied those reports.
