“A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced the editor of an Internet forum he founded to discuss the role of religion in the conservative Islamic kingdom to 10 years in jail and 1,000 lashes, Saudi media reported on Wednesday.

Raif Badawi, who started the "Free Saudi Liberals" website, was originally sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes…The judge at the criminal court in the Red Sea City of Jeddah also fined him one million riyals ($266,600). Badawi's website has been closed since his first trial.”

Last Friday Raif was subjected to 50 lashes, the first installment of the 1000 lashes, at these hours he is scheduled to receive his second installment. There will be 18 more installments after that too.

Raif’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, who is now thankfully safe in Canada, has told Amnesty:

“Raif told me he is in a lot of pain after his flogging, his health is poor, … I told our children about the news last week so that they would not find out about it from friends at school. It is a huge shock for them. International pressure is crucial; I believe if we keep up the support it will eventually pay off.”

Hey ruling Saudi savages, stop it!

Sanctions works, U.S. Senate, get to it.