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1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think
"Raif Badawi's is an important voice for all of us to hear, mild, nuanced, but clear. His examination of his culture is perceptive and rigorous. Of course he must be saved from the dreadful sentence against him and the appalling conditions of his imprisonment. But he must also be read, so that we understand the struggle within Islam between suffocating orthodoxy and free expression, and make sure we find ourselves on the right side of that struggle.” —Salman Rushdie
The pivotal texts of Raif Badawi, the liberal Saudi Arabian blogger arrested for blogging about free speech, and sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison on charges related to accusations that he insulted Islam on his blog.
Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger, shared his thoughts on politics, religion, and liberalism online. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, ten years in prison, and a fine of around $315,000. This politically topical polemic gathers together Badawi’s pivotal texts. He expresses his opinions on life in an autocratic-Islamic state under the Sharia and his perception of freedom of expression, human and civil rights, tolerance and the necessary separation of state and religion.
The pivotal texts of Raif Badawi, the liberal Saudi Arabian blogger arrested for blogging about free speech, and sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison on charges related to accusations that he insulted Islam on his blog.
Raif Badawi, a Saudi Arabian blogger, shared his thoughts on politics, religion, and liberalism online. He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, ten years in prison, and a fine of around $315,000. This politically topical polemic gathers together Badawi’s pivotal texts. He expresses his opinions on life in an autocratic-Islamic state under the Sharia and his perception of freedom of expression, human and civil rights, tolerance and the necessary separation of state and religion.
80 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
August 9, 2015
Raif's writings are powerful, yet poetic, and they need to be read. The entries included in this book were mostly written in 2012, yet they give an uncanny account of events that were yet to come. If you're looking for a deeper understanding of what it feels like to try to live free in a repressed country, "1000 Lashes" takes you there. This is a must-read for anyone who blogs, anyone who desires a deeper understanding of Saudi Arabian culture, and anyone who sympathizes with the unbearable plight of this young writer, father, husband, hero.
October 2, 2015
Hard to believe someone can be punished for such peaceful thoughts.
September 25, 2016
"Your freedom ends on the outskirts of the freedom of others"
Loved this statement.
What Raif is saying is actually simple and non-controversial. Remove religion from state. Keep it indoors. Promote free-thinking. Promote curiosity. Promote questions. Even inconvenient questions. And that shall lead us to progress.
Loved this statement.
What Raif is saying is actually simple and non-controversial. Remove religion from state. Keep it indoors. Promote free-thinking. Promote curiosity. Promote questions. Even inconvenient questions. And that shall lead us to progress.
July 17, 2018
Badawi's book is made of the writings that got him into trouble with the Saudi Arabian government. The book is short as the writings were blog posts, and one does wonder why such writings could be so dangerous. But the words are powerful. The book worth reading.
November 7, 2015
10 years in prison, 1000 lashes, and a million Saudi riyals (~$350,000 cdn) for these words - and this was reduced from a death sentence. You can certainly understand why some fight so vehemently for free speech and liberalism. Raif's story is not only worth knowing about, but something you should be concerned about as global citizens.
December 19, 2017
A book that shows that also shorter volumes can carry a powerful message. Beautiful writings by a young Saudi who wants his country, his society to progress. He offers his progressive views on politics, religion and the need to divide these two, also on general issues of his society, especially the relationship between men and women and women's status in general. It's an interesting glimpse into the thinking/world of a young man who softly - very softly! - puts the fingers in several wounds, in a way that seems really innocent to me and my western shaped way of thinking, yet it had dire consequences for him.
Overall, a recommended read that gives hope for those young people and their voices.
Overall, a recommended read that gives hope for those young people and their voices.
July 23, 2015
@raif_badawi #FreeRaif #ReadRaif #RaifBadawi #1000coupsdefouet #1000Peitschenhiebe #1000lashes http://www.raifbadawi.org http://freeraif.net
December 28, 2017
This short book contains fifteen of Badawi's blogs for which he was punished by being beaten and thrown in jail. I was curious to see just what he said that caused the Saudi Arabian government to take such action. It didn't take much. Here are my favourite blogs:
A Male Escort for Every Female Scholar
I had heard that under Islamic law, women are forbidden to leave their house without a man to escort them but did not know that this extended to Saudi female scholars in the United Kingdom.
How dare he point out the foolishness of this demand.
Mixed or Divided
He talks about stories that his grandmother told him about how women used to work alongside men on the farms. For the last thirty years that is not allowed, except for in hospitals and in large malls.
I guess if it's a matter of saving someone's life or selling them a food processor, then women are allowed to work.
The Traveler's Marriage and the Borrowed Ram
I find it incredulous that here is a loophole to a law for which I can't fathom the need. Do women in Saudi Arabia actually marry, divorce, remarry the same guy, divorce him again, remarry him for a third time, and then divorce him again, often enough, that the borrowed ram loophole is required?
Yes! I Will Fight Theists and Religious Thoughts
I guess with this title he is kinda giving himself away, ha ha.
Badawi points out that during medieval Europe, the church had absolute power over the people and then when that power was reduced, "European countries developed into nations buzzing with civilization, active in building the rights of the individual and exporting knowledge and science to the rest of humanity".
He states that countries based on religious ideology have nothing to offer human civilization except "an irrational fear of a deity and an inability to challenge life". To which I reply "don't forget the OIL!" We happily accept the exported OIL and are afraid to step on anyone's toes in case we get cut off.
A Male Escort for Every Female Scholar
I had heard that under Islamic law, women are forbidden to leave their house without a man to escort them but did not know that this extended to Saudi female scholars in the United Kingdom.
How dare he point out the foolishness of this demand.
Mixed or Divided
He talks about stories that his grandmother told him about how women used to work alongside men on the farms. For the last thirty years that is not allowed, except for in hospitals and in large malls.
I guess if it's a matter of saving someone's life or selling them a food processor, then women are allowed to work.
The Traveler's Marriage and the Borrowed Ram
"If a woman has been divorced from her husband twice and remarries him each time, and if he then divorces her a third time, under Islamic law he is not allowed to marry her again. That is haram, that is to say, forbidden. To deal with this problem, a different form of marriage was created. Officially known as "the borrowed ram", this practice is said to go back to the prophet himself. The borrowed ram is a man who marries a woman for the night and divorces her. After she has had a marriage with another man, it is once again lawful for her to return to her previous husband. The term "borrowed ram" comes from the practice of goat herders occasionally borrowing a ram to inseminate their female goats. Moreover, the ram is said to have a strong sexual drive."
I find it incredulous that here is a loophole to a law for which I can't fathom the need. Do women in Saudi Arabia actually marry, divorce, remarry the same guy, divorce him again, remarry him for a third time, and then divorce him again, often enough, that the borrowed ram loophole is required?
Yes! I Will Fight Theists and Religious Thoughts
I guess with this title he is kinda giving himself away, ha ha.
Badawi points out that during medieval Europe, the church had absolute power over the people and then when that power was reduced, "European countries developed into nations buzzing with civilization, active in building the rights of the individual and exporting knowledge and science to the rest of humanity".
He states that countries based on religious ideology have nothing to offer human civilization except "an irrational fear of a deity and an inability to challenge life". To which I reply "don't forget the OIL!" We happily accept the exported OIL and are afraid to step on anyone's toes in case we get cut off.
December 3, 2017
This is a short book, a collection of several of Raif's blog posts. I was surprized how respectful he is of his country and religion as he points out the changes that could be made to improve the society. He includes historical evidence of how things such as free speech, collaboration and mixing of the sexes, treatment of woman, etc used to be the norm in Islamic culture. He challenges his readers and leaders to think critically and examine their society. He quotes authors and discusses books and writings. I was particularly impressed with his review of "The Secular Choice and the Myth of Examples" by Saeed Nasheed. Here is a quote discussing western culture which seemed to hit home for me. " What about the Western example?....It is starting to derail from the promises of the age of enlightenment towards the far right, religious, conservation goals that are somehow colonizing. The Western example is based on the value of superiority and power..... It is threatening the values that created the magic of the West over many decades: the values of intelligence, equality, world peace, protection of the environment, conviviality, and the many other values that will lead to the immortality of humanity. It's starting to threaten the good lives of the citizens within the Western communities themselves. It's threatening the unity of humanity. It's threatening its own survival in a time when no Noah's ark is coming to the rescue." This was one post that discussed the western culture as it was a review of a book that discussed different examples of society and how it is best to start fresh than to imitate another. I think Raif is a young man who should be free and speaking publicly as he thinks, examines, challenges, hoping for a better society and future. And all is done so respectfully of his current culture and society. How can he be in prison?
May 26, 2017
"Nothing should be so sacred as to be protected from humour, for fear that humour might induce reflection, and reflection might induce questioning, and questioning might induce freethinking."
^ Couldn't agree more. Badawi is a brave and clever man. We need more people like him -- people who aren't afraid to speak out for logical, rational and empathetic thought, despite the risk of cruel punishment.
"Look at all the countries that are based on a religious ideology; look at their people and the generations born into it: What do they have to offer human civilisation? They offer nothing more than an irrational fear of a deity and an inability to challenge life."
^ Couldn't agree more. Badawi is a brave and clever man. We need more people like him -- people who aren't afraid to speak out for logical, rational and empathetic thought, despite the risk of cruel punishment.
"Look at all the countries that are based on a religious ideology; look at their people and the generations born into it: What do they have to offer human civilisation? They offer nothing more than an irrational fear of a deity and an inability to challenge life."
February 8, 2016
L'historien et politologue américain Howard Zinn, connu pour son positionnement politique pacifiste qui élève au rang de devoir la désobéissance civile, affirmait qu'on ne peut pas être neutre dans un train en marche. Raif Badawi l'a bien compris et a ainsi pris la plume pour promouvoir des valeurs libérales lui étant chères. Et s'en va conclure un article sur la mixité avec cette question: «allons-nous enfin nous réveiller et prendre le train en marche?», suggérant implicitement qu'on en peut pas être neutre à la gare non plus. Éditiant.
June 7, 2017
I wanted to rant in this review. I really did.
There is no way that Raif should be imprisoned for his thoughts. He should be venerated for them and working with someone in the Saudi government to improve lives.
Yet, he is in prison for crimes no more severe than actually daring to have an opinion. That is a bigger crime than anything he is accused of.
This book needs to get read especially in places that ban it. It shows intelligence and a humanity that many lack.
There is no way that Raif should be imprisoned for his thoughts. He should be venerated for them and working with someone in the Saudi government to improve lives.
Yet, he is in prison for crimes no more severe than actually daring to have an opinion. That is a bigger crime than anything he is accused of.
This book needs to get read especially in places that ban it. It shows intelligence and a humanity that many lack.
September 4, 2016
Anyone who wants to know more about the different views that exist in Saudi Arabia and the injustices and tyranny of religious rule of any country should read this brave cry for freedom to think and speak.
July 11, 2016
A good read, not just for those concerned about polarized conflict between the Left and the Right, but because of the insights it offers into real liberalism (as opposed to regressive leftism), the need for free speech and for secularism. Short but insightful.
March 10, 2016
The most important book I've read this year.
October 17, 2018
Raif Badawi’s “1000 Lashes: Because I say what I think” is a book that has sat on my shelf for some time waiting for the moment to pick it up. Considering the disappearance, and likely torture and murder of Saudi journalist Jamaal Kashoggi recently, now seemed like the moment.
Badawi, the founder of the online forum “Free Saudi Liberals” and prominent blogger/critic of the Saudi regime was sentenced to death in 2012 for apostasy. An outcry from the world media saw his sentence reduced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes (of which at the time of this collection he had received 50), and a fine of roughly 250,000 US dollars.
What did Badawi do to earn such a draconian punishment? He, as the title of the book attests, spoke his mind.
While there is always the danger of my own liberal Western upbringing coloring my opinions, I saw little here that could be considered particularly treasonous. While Badawi is critical of the Saudi regime (one essay describes a humiliating decree where visiting Saudi female scholars in the UK were given 8 weeks to prove they had a male companion accompanying them) he does not distance himself from Islam. Rather, he embraces it and argues that Liberalism and Islam are compatible. He doesn’t advocate for Western style democracy but instead argues that a uniquely Saudi style of government that allows each man and woman freedom of expression be allowed to flower.
There were times reading Badawi where I felt perhaps this belief in the ability of Liberalism and Islam to coexist was naive. He argues that religion, any religion, cannot be the foundation of a government but is this realistic? In a perfect world men and women would be able to confine their personal beliefs to themselves but just as he has argued that no government based solely on religion has prospered, few governments have been completely free of religion in one form or another. Often leading to equally disastrous results. The desire to impose our belief systems on others is as old as time and perhaps the most difficult thing to eradicate from any system of governing.
But these are arguments that need to be had. This is the crux I believe of what Badawi writes here. That we should be able to discuss and disagree, even passionately, without fear of repercussions to our lives or families. It seems on the surface to be a basic truth but, as Badawi’s imprisonment shows us, we still have far to go.
Badawi, the founder of the online forum “Free Saudi Liberals” and prominent blogger/critic of the Saudi regime was sentenced to death in 2012 for apostasy. An outcry from the world media saw his sentence reduced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes (of which at the time of this collection he had received 50), and a fine of roughly 250,000 US dollars.
What did Badawi do to earn such a draconian punishment? He, as the title of the book attests, spoke his mind.
While there is always the danger of my own liberal Western upbringing coloring my opinions, I saw little here that could be considered particularly treasonous. While Badawi is critical of the Saudi regime (one essay describes a humiliating decree where visiting Saudi female scholars in the UK were given 8 weeks to prove they had a male companion accompanying them) he does not distance himself from Islam. Rather, he embraces it and argues that Liberalism and Islam are compatible. He doesn’t advocate for Western style democracy but instead argues that a uniquely Saudi style of government that allows each man and woman freedom of expression be allowed to flower.
There were times reading Badawi where I felt perhaps this belief in the ability of Liberalism and Islam to coexist was naive. He argues that religion, any religion, cannot be the foundation of a government but is this realistic? In a perfect world men and women would be able to confine their personal beliefs to themselves but just as he has argued that no government based solely on religion has prospered, few governments have been completely free of religion in one form or another. Often leading to equally disastrous results. The desire to impose our belief systems on others is as old as time and perhaps the most difficult thing to eradicate from any system of governing.
But these are arguments that need to be had. This is the crux I believe of what Badawi writes here. That we should be able to discuss and disagree, even passionately, without fear of repercussions to our lives or families. It seems on the surface to be a basic truth but, as Badawi’s imprisonment shows us, we still have far to go.
November 13, 2022
Free speech is a hot topic these days. But in a bunch of countries around the world, shariah (Islamic law) is above any other kind of law, and the ones who control the Islamic laws control the population.
Raif Badawi's 1000 Lashe: because I say what I think, is a compilation of this Saudi Arabian blogger's writing he shared on the internet, in his pursuit to exert the freedom to express one's thoughts in order to bring a more liberal means of expression, but also to claim for a secular society instead of a theocratic one, governed by the Sharia.
His blogging resulted in his arrest, on account of accusations of insulting Islam. The death penalty was converted into 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes on his blog.
In my opinion, this is a very necessary book, as Badawi discusses freedom issues concerning religious, political, and ideological fundamentalism. He does not disrespect Islam, but he wishes for the possibility to express his thoughts without being constantly restrained on account of a fight for power. Because in the end, fundamentalisms are a fight for power using the goodwill and faith of people to maintain your vision of the world, thus, the power within each and every society.
As Western societies, governed by democratically elected representatives, have been experiencing it, this is a very serious concern on the face of what has been no so long ago called "fake news". The horrifying thing is that in these western societies, there are court battles in order to make it legal to spread lies (fake news) on account of free speech, with the result of undermining liberties and strengthening those same religious, political, and ideological fundamentalisms as we've seen in countries like the USA and Brazil, just to name two of them. These claimers wish to have free speech as an absolute right whereas no right can be absolute, for there are elements of constraint concerning every right that doesn't allow it to be absolute. In other way, deniers and fundamentalists might have the upper hand, and when they do, there are serious threats to maintaining secular societies.
Alea jacta est>/i>. The dice have been thrown and Badawi's book is a very important alert to each one of us.
Raif Badawi's 1000 Lashe: because I say what I think, is a compilation of this Saudi Arabian blogger's writing he shared on the internet, in his pursuit to exert the freedom to express one's thoughts in order to bring a more liberal means of expression, but also to claim for a secular society instead of a theocratic one, governed by the Sharia.
His blogging resulted in his arrest, on account of accusations of insulting Islam. The death penalty was converted into 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes on his blog.
In my opinion, this is a very necessary book, as Badawi discusses freedom issues concerning religious, political, and ideological fundamentalism. He does not disrespect Islam, but he wishes for the possibility to express his thoughts without being constantly restrained on account of a fight for power. Because in the end, fundamentalisms are a fight for power using the goodwill and faith of people to maintain your vision of the world, thus, the power within each and every society.
As Western societies, governed by democratically elected representatives, have been experiencing it, this is a very serious concern on the face of what has been no so long ago called "fake news". The horrifying thing is that in these western societies, there are court battles in order to make it legal to spread lies (fake news) on account of free speech, with the result of undermining liberties and strengthening those same religious, political, and ideological fundamentalisms as we've seen in countries like the USA and Brazil, just to name two of them. These claimers wish to have free speech as an absolute right whereas no right can be absolute, for there are elements of constraint concerning every right that doesn't allow it to be absolute. In other way, deniers and fundamentalists might have the upper hand, and when they do, there are serious threats to maintaining secular societies.
Alea jacta est>/i>. The dice have been thrown and Badawi's book is a very important alert to each one of us.
February 18, 2022
I read this book because I had a strange curiosity to know the opinions that caused him all this suffering. The strange thing is that he did not call for anything other than equality, justice and freedom. He was demanding a secular state that treat women and men equally and abolishes religious guardianship over its citizens. Until the Arab person is freed from the shackles of dogmatic thinking and falls into the arms of creativity and distinction.
It is shame to punish a human being for such peaceful thoughts. Really the Arab world is the cemetery of liberal ideas.
It is shame to punish a human being for such peaceful thoughts. Really the Arab world is the cemetery of liberal ideas.
December 14, 2018
Sad book... What happened to this man is horrible.
March 13, 2023
Very fascinating. Had to read it for school and I'm glad I actually did. Would happily read it again at a later date.
May 26, 2018
The case of Raif Badawi has been of special importance to me and I was watching the evolvement of it closely over the past eight years.
Raif is a Saudi Arabian writer and the creator of online forum "Free Saudi liberals". He has been imprisoned since 2012 due to his writing in this forum and another forum under the name of "Modern Discussion" الحوار المتمدن.
He was accused of apostasy and sentenced to death, then the sentence was reduced to ten years of imprisonment, 1000 lashes and one million Saudi riyals.
The execution of the lashes was so barbaric, he gets the first 50 lashes in front of people who watched the execution while they were saying "Allah Akbar".
What he did to deserve that?:
He wrote articles about his views about theocracy and Islamic governments and how they limit its people, deny their rights of free speech and punish them which is sadly what happened to him after he wrote those articles.
This book is a collection of 15 of his articles translated and republished in one book. The articles tackle diverse subjects but it was mainly about liberalism, freedom of speech and a hope for better future in the Arab world.
He faces, with his pen only, the extreme government of Saudi Arabia and as a result, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes and paying off one million Saudi riyals.
What a cruel punishment for just saying what he thinks!
I can't help but admire his bravery!.
________________
For more information about him and his case take a look at Raif Badawi Foundation
Raif is a Saudi Arabian writer and the creator of online forum "Free Saudi liberals". He has been imprisoned since 2012 due to his writing in this forum and another forum under the name of "Modern Discussion" الحوار المتمدن.
He was accused of apostasy and sentenced to death, then the sentence was reduced to ten years of imprisonment, 1000 lashes and one million Saudi riyals.
The execution of the lashes was so barbaric, he gets the first 50 lashes in front of people who watched the execution while they were saying "Allah Akbar".
What he did to deserve that?:
He wrote articles about his views about theocracy and Islamic governments and how they limit its people, deny their rights of free speech and punish them which is sadly what happened to him after he wrote those articles.
Look at all the countries that are based on a religious ideology; look at their people and the generations born into it: What do they have to offer human civilization?
They offer nothing more than an irrational fear of a deity and an inability to challenge life.
These ideas continue to lead the way for generations to come: those generations are incapable of creative thought, incapable of building culture. They are unable to create their own modern structure or even practice the systems of civilization bestowed upon them by others.
~ Raif Badawi
This book is a collection of 15 of his articles translated and republished in one book. The articles tackle diverse subjects but it was mainly about liberalism, freedom of speech and a hope for better future in the Arab world.
He faces, with his pen only, the extreme government of Saudi Arabia and as a result, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison, 1000 lashes and paying off one million Saudi riyals.
What a cruel punishment for just saying what he thinks!
I can't help but admire his bravery!.
________________
For more information about him and his case take a look at Raif Badawi Foundation
September 10, 2015
Allein schon aus reinster Empathie muss man diesem Buch zugute halten, dass sich jemand getraut hat offen seine Meinung zu präsentieren, wo Presse/ und Meinungsfreiheit so gut wie nonexistent sind (sehr lapidar ausgedrückt).
Man möchte meinen, dass bei jemandem, der für seine Politkritik inhaftiert wurde, viel subjektivere Äußerungen in den Bloginhalten vermerkt sind. Ist aber überhaupt nicht der Fall - im Gegenteil; ich war positiv davon überrascht, wieviel ich als islamferne Person über gewisse innere Strukturen aufmerksam gemacht wurde. Unter Anderem waren da Quellen zu seinen Begründungen beigelegt, die ich so noch nicht recht nachvollziehen konnte (zu wenig know-how), dennoch allein schon menschlich gesehen "nicht okay" finde. Abstattungsehe beispielsweise, wtf?
Schön war es außerdem, erst einmal den Begriff "Liberalismus" geklärt zu haben, denn Herr Badawis Äußerungen begründen sich größtenteils aus liberalen Gedankengängen.
Jeder der mal bereit ist, den Islam auch kritisch zu betrachten, wird hier sein gefundenes Fressen finden. Es ist ein sehr informatives Buch, wirft aber keine neuen Thematiken auf. Vermutlich muss man das Buch unter dem Gesichtspunkt betrachten, dass es sich um übersetzte Blogeinträge handelt. Jemand möchte seinen Standpunkt erläutern und daher finde ich es etwas schwierig, dem Sterne oder generell eine Bewertung abzugeben.
Respekt in jeder Hinsicht an diesen Mann.
Man möchte meinen, dass bei jemandem, der für seine Politkritik inhaftiert wurde, viel subjektivere Äußerungen in den Bloginhalten vermerkt sind. Ist aber überhaupt nicht der Fall - im Gegenteil; ich war positiv davon überrascht, wieviel ich als islamferne Person über gewisse innere Strukturen aufmerksam gemacht wurde. Unter Anderem waren da Quellen zu seinen Begründungen beigelegt, die ich so noch nicht recht nachvollziehen konnte (zu wenig know-how), dennoch allein schon menschlich gesehen "nicht okay" finde. Abstattungsehe beispielsweise, wtf?
Schön war es außerdem, erst einmal den Begriff "Liberalismus" geklärt zu haben, denn Herr Badawis Äußerungen begründen sich größtenteils aus liberalen Gedankengängen.
Jeder der mal bereit ist, den Islam auch kritisch zu betrachten, wird hier sein gefundenes Fressen finden. Es ist ein sehr informatives Buch, wirft aber keine neuen Thematiken auf. Vermutlich muss man das Buch unter dem Gesichtspunkt betrachten, dass es sich um übersetzte Blogeinträge handelt. Jemand möchte seinen Standpunkt erläutern und daher finde ich es etwas schwierig, dem Sterne oder generell eine Bewertung abzugeben.
Respekt in jeder Hinsicht an diesen Mann.
December 9, 2015
For those familiar with modern criticisms of religion in the Western world, there's nothing remarkable in what Raif Badawi wrote on his blog, now condensed into this short book. Yet it brought down the full weigh of the Saudi authorities on his head and earned him a prison sentence and 1000 lashes. There's nothing of stunning originality here, though I did learn a few new snippets about about Islam and life in Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, you should read his words and appreciate how fortunate you are to live in a country where no one would think twice about expressing similar opinions.
February 6, 2016
Incredibly important, surprisingly funny; a great writer on liberalism and secularism who deserves worldwide support until he's released.
January 13, 2020
very powerful and inspirational. I have lived through the era Badawi beautifully describes, and I am happy that the country is now changing to the better. I remember watching a short interview over the phone with Badawi on TV, he wasn't very articulate. This book, however, makes his thoughts and ideas a lot clearer. I am a Saudi citizen, and the ideas advocated in this book are worth supporting, but I do not think he was imprisoned because of these writings. I think he was more direct in ridiculing Islamic teachings and Muslim clerics on twitter, where the religious apparatus couldn't take his criticism any longer. I am surprised the editor of this book didn't include those tweets despite their accessibility.
May 25, 2017
In this short offering by activist-journalist Raif Badawi -- we are offered a glimpse at what might be called: a taste of freedom in the Arab world. Mr. Badawi had been sentenced to jail in Saudi Arabia because of what is written in pages of this short look at the Arab spring. Heartbreaking in many ways-- we are now in the middle of the backlash from IS. Freedom and truth die only when we allow it to do so. I do recommend the book.
February 24, 2019
10 års fängelse och 1000 piskrapp blev straffet för denna unga bloggares frihetslängtan. Han sätter ord på människors inre längtan efter förnuft, fred, jämlikhet och utveckling. Genomgående med klarsynt modig skärpa, ibland med underhållande ironi. Han sätter ord på värden som andra riskerar ta för givna, därmed en nyttig bok för alla att läsa!
October 29, 2018
Excellent reader
I appreciated the author is a struggle for freedom, as well as his general thoughts. I would definitely recommend that everyone read this book.
I appreciated the author is a struggle for freedom, as well as his general thoughts. I would definitely recommend that everyone read this book.
May 17, 2022
Such a horrific fate, and such mild and reasonable opinions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews