German minister sought pardon for jailed Saudi blogger

Reuters

9 March 2015 at 10:02 am

Ensaf Haidar (C) takes part in a demonstration calling for the release of her husband, Raif Badawi, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa January 29, 2015. REUTERS/Chris Wattie/Files

ABU DHABI (Reuters) - The German economy minister and vice chancellor on Monday said he had discussed human rights issues in Saudi Arabia and suggested a pardon for the Kingdom's imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi. Sigmar Gabriel met Saudi government officials on Sunday as part of a Gulf tour. "We asked for a solution in dignity," he told reporters at a joint news conference in Abu Dhabi with the economy minister of the United Arab Emirates. In Germany if a person is sentenced to prison the president has the right to pardon them, he said. "So we asked for a solution which is possible, maybe through the same way we are doing in Germany. That was the discussion," he said, without elaborating. Last year, Saudi authorities sentenced blogger Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and a fine of 1,000 lashes for "insulting Islam" on a blog. Saudi Arabia on Saturday defended its human rights record in its first public reaction to protests Western countries and campaigns by international rights groups to free Badawi. An unnamed foreign ministry official told state media the country has an independent judiciary and "does not accept interference in any form in its internal affairs." The German delegation led by Gabriel attended the 10th session of the joint commission on economic and technical cooperation between the UAE and Germany on Monday. (Reporting By Stanley Carvalho, editing by Noah Browning)

The Telegraph
Listen: Biden says he is ‘first black woman to serve with a black president’
Joe Biden has said he is “proud” to be the first “black woman to serve with a black president” in one of a series of verbal gaffes as the USA celebrated Independence Day.
The Telegraph
The world must prepare for President Michelle Obama
The 2024 US Presidential race intensifies. Speculation abounds over potential replacements for President Joe Biden amid increasing pressure from his party and the media to step aside after a jaw-dropping, catastrophic debate against Donald Trump last week. Among the names circulating, a game-changer is emerging: Michelle Obama. Could this be America’s worst nightmare?
The Daily Beast
Conservatives Routed in Worst Election Result for 200 Years
LONDON—The Conservatives, the world’s winningest political party, were booted out of power in dramatic style on Thursday after 14 years of chaotic and divisive rule.The Labour Party had secured a landslide victory, ending an era of Conservative rule over Britain that stretches back to 2010; the year that the iPad and Instagram were launched and Lady Gaga wore that meat dress to the MTV music awards.In that time, the Conservatives have cycled through five leaders, each of them dragging the party
The Telegraph
Biden ‘seriously considering’ leaving election race
Joe Biden has for the first time said that he is considering ending his presidential campaign, according to reports.
Cinema Online
Joyce Chen confirms she has become a mother
The TVB actress shares photos of her and her daughter, not revealing partner's identity
The Telegraph
Beijing is laughing at the West’s weakness
Russian aggression in Ukraine poses a threat to world peace and stability. China provides material support for Russia’s actions. All this is entirely clear. In Beijing, immediately after a meeting with Xi Jinping in April this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “Russia would struggle to sustain its assault on Ukraine without China’s support”. This included selling huge quantities of machine tools and micro-electronics that would be used in the Russian defence industry.
The Independent
A couple rented an Airbnb from a ‘friendly’ landlord. Then they wound up dismembered in a suitcase
Michael Lee Dudley seemed like a typical Washington homeowner – until three teenagers stumbled across a suitcase of horrors on a beach
Cosmo
Jade Thirlwall frees the nipple in a see-through chainmail top
Jade Thirlwall appears on the cover of beat magazine wearing a see-through chainmail top to free the nipple. See the image shared on social media, here.
Hello!
Rod Stewart, 79, rocked by divorce news: report
In a surprising turn of events Rod Stewart has received some shocking divorce news. See details.
Bloomberg
These flight routes suffer the world’s worst turbulence
A series of incidents that left scores of airline passengers needing medical attention has shone a spotlight on the problem of severe in-flight turbulence.
CNN
9 out of 10 voters say there are important differences between Biden and Trump. Here’s what they see as the biggest ones
If there’s one thing that American voters overwhelmingly agree on, it’s that this year’s presidential election presents a stark choice. In the latest CNN poll by SSRS, 91% of registered voters say they see important differences between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, dwarfing even the 77% of voters who said last fall that there were significant divides between the Democratic and Republican parties. Even among the so-called “double haters” – those with unfavorable views of
INSIDER
How Obama mentored the new UK prime minister to help him tell his story
The leader of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer, has been mentored by Barack Obama. The relationship is likely to continue if Starmer wins the UK election.
BuzzFeed
"It Was The Worst Betrayal I Have Ever Experienced": People Are Revealing The Shocking Reason Why They Don't Speak To Their Sibling Anymore
"Once it became clear he was committed to those ugly morals, I told him never to contact me."
Evening Standard
All change: When will Rishi Sunak have to move out of Number 10 — and where could he live next?
With the removal vans on standby, the current prime minister has a portfolio of high-end properties to choose from
The Smart Investor
4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell
There are good reasons not to let go of a great dividend-paying stock. Here are four of them I plan to hold for the rest of my life. The post 4 Reliable Singapore Dividend Stocks That I Never Intend to Sell appeared first on The Smart Investor.
Evening Standard
Manchester United: Erik ten Hag makes bold title race vow as new contract confirmed
The Dutchman has been rewarded for back-to-back season winning silverware with a one-year extension
Hello!
Amanda Holden almost bears all in glamorous shower video from lavish bathroom
BGT's Amanda Holden looked sensational when she almost bore all in a candid shower video. See video.
The Telegraph
Zelensky U-turns as he invites Russia to attend peace summit without giving up land
Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russia to the next peace summit despite previously saying it could only join if it relinquished land in Ukraine.
The Independent
Liz Truss loses seat as ex-prime minister becomes biggest scalp in Tory bloodbath
Truss’ defeat comes after disastrous stint as prime minister that crashed the economy and soured party’s chances of returning to power
Associated Press
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong asks for a lesser sentence in landmark security case
Prominent activist Joshua Wong asked for a lesser sentence in court Friday after he earlier pleaded guilty in Hong Kong's biggest national security case. Wong was one of 47 activists charged in 2021 under a Beijing-imposed national security law with conspiracy to commit subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary. The activists were accused of attempting to paralyze Hong Kong’s government and topple the city’s leader by aiming to win a legislative majority and using it to block city budgets indiscriminately.

Latest stories