Free Republic

As a card-carrying neoconservative, I am usually a critic of realpolitik. But in judging the Trump administration’s current response to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, I find myself thinking that more realpolitik would lead to better policy. Here’s what I mean. The president has made two statements, both of which refuse to break with Saudi Arabia or its crown prince: his formal White House statement and his comments to reporters when about to get into Marine One and depart the White House. Both constitute a kind of realpolitik. The formal statement begins this way: “The world is a...

The wife of jailed Saudi journalist Raif Badawi has asked for a meeting with President Trump, and wants him to push for Badawi's release amid the growing furor over the disappearance and suspected murder of Saudi dissident and columnist Jamal Khashoggi. "I hope to meet with him as many leaders around the world stand up with me and my case," Ensaf Haider told the Washington Examiner. International advocacy of Badawi's case has simmered for years, but could become more active after the global outrage over Khashoggi. Badawi, the former editor of news and commentary website Free Saudi Liberals was arrested...

A group of activists, organized by CODEPINK and the Gulf Institute, protested outside of the Saudi Arabian embassy on Thursday. Led by CODEPINK Co-founder Medea Benjamin, they attempted to deliver a petition demanding the release of liberal blogger Raif Badawi. Benjamin demands the immediate release of Badawi. “[the government] must respect free speech," Benjamin told News2Share. "I think if there was one phone call from President Obama that said, 'free Raif Badawi,' Raif would be free." Upon entering the embassy, the protesters were forcefully removed. The protesters continued to picket outside the embassy chanting, “no flogging for blogging” and “journalism...

Amid criticism over Saudi Arabia’s hosting of an international conference on combating intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, two U.S. lawmakers have introduced a resolution calling for the global repeal of blasphemy laws, citing the kingdom as an especially egregious offender. The bill, introduced by Reps. Joseph Pitts (R-Pa.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) states that “Saudi Arabia has used criminal charges of blasphemy to suppress discussion and debate and silence dissidents.” […] Less than a mile-and-a-half away from the scene of the flogging (of Raif Badawi), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday and Thursday this...

Saudi blogger and activist Raif Badawi, sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam, is set to receive the first set of 50 lashes tomorrow. Badawi will be flogged after Friday prayers tomorrow and continuously over a period of 20 weeks as the remainder of his sentence is carried out, according to Amnesty International.