Raif Badawi back in court, future remains uncertain

Amnesty International is reporting that Saudi blogger Raif Badawi has again appeared in criminal court, however, the implications of this remain unknown as he is scheduled to be flogged again Friday.

On January 9, Badawi received the first 50 lashes of the 1,000-lash sentence.

He was then granted a medical exemption for the next two Fridays.

Last Friday, however, he was again not flogged, though this time he was not evaluated by a physician, leaving both Badawi, his family living in Quebec, and international supporters wondering about the status of his case.

• Raif Badawi, jailed Saudi blogger, has flogging delayed again 

Amnesty International says it is reluctant to celebrate Badawi appearing in criminal court.

The last time he was brought before this court in May 2014, his sentence was increased from 600 lashes to 1,000, and from seven years to 10 years in prison.

In December, the now-deceased King Abdullah had asked the Supreme Court to look into Badawi’s case.

The Supreme Court then referred the case back the criminal court.