Thanks to windy for pointing out two more petitions important to religious freedom and freedom of expression in the world. Whether or not you think the petitions are likely to have an effect, I urge you to sign them since it’s so easy. Once you have a change.org account you can sign a petition with a single click.
The first:
Free and safeguard Raif Badawy, a liberal Saudi accused of “Apostasy”
A Saudi court on Monday referred a rights activist to a higher court for alleged apostasy, a charge that could lead to the death penalty in the ultra-conservative kingdom, activists said.
A judge at a lower court referred Raef Badawi to a higher court, declaring that he “could not give a verdict in a case of apostasy,” a rights activist told AFP. Apostasy means renunciation of a religious faith
Badawi, who was arrested a June in the Red Sea city of Jeddah for unknown reasons, is a co-founder of the Saudi Liberal Network with female rights activist Suad al-Shammari and others.
The network had announced May 7 a “day of liberalism” in the Muslim kingdom, calling for an end to the influence of religion on public life in Saudi Arabia.
[Source]
The second:
Government of Kuwait: Free humanist/atheist activist Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz
In Kuwait an atheist activist and blogger has been arrested and jailed for blasphemy. Abdel Aziz Mohamed Albaz was arrested in Kuwait on charges of blasphemy on Dec. 31, 2012.
Aziz (also known as BenBaz) has been a major force behind Arab Atheist TV, and writes a blog: “Buzz Bin Baz – Rational Libertarian Humanitarian.”
Currently Aziz is being detained at the Central Prison in Kuwait City, and has been there since Jan. 2. An Egyptian, Aziz has been living and working in Kuwait. Friends report Aziz was picked up at his place of work and detained by police in Kuwait on Dec. 31, 2012. A hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 28, 2013.
[Source]
