[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 207 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H6917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN HONOR OF HUMAN RIGHTS DAY, FREE RAIF BADAWI

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, December 10 is recognized around the world 
as Human Rights Day.
  This year marks the 72nd anniversary of the adoption of the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights. In that spirit, I am here today to call on 
the Government of Saudi Arabia to release blogger and human rights 
activist Raif Badawi.
  In 2014, Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in 
prison for operating a website that encouraged debate on religious and 
political issues in his country.
  Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is claiming to be a reformer intent 
on modernizing Saudi Arabia. Raif Badawi's case plainly disproves that 
claim.
  Raif Badawi will soon celebrate his 37th birthday in prison, the 
ninth birthday he will have spent away from his wife and children.
  Mr. Speaker, the Saudi Government must immediately and 
unconditionally release Raif Badawi and all other Saudi prisoners of 
conscience.

                          ____________________