Saudi blogger Raif Badawi released after 10 years in prison

After10yearsinprisonfor "insulting Islam,"Saudibloggerand human rights activistRaifBadawi, who has become a symbol of freedom of expression around the world, wasreleasedon Friday.

"Raifcalled me. He is free," his wife Ensaf Haidar, who lives in Canada with their three children and had been fiercely advocating for his release, told AFP.

Badawi's release was also confirmed by aSaudisecurity official, who said on condition of anonymity that "he wasreleasedtoday."

"I jumped when I found out. I couldn't believe it. I can't wait to see my dad, I'm so excited," one of his daughters, NawjaBadawi, 18, told AFP.

The winner of the Reporters Without Borders prize for press freedom was arrested and detained inSaudiArabia in 2012 on charges of "insulting Islam."

At the end of 2014,Badawi, now 38, was sentenced to10yearsinprisonand 50 lashes a week for twenty weeks.

His first flogging in Jeddah square inSaudiArabia shocked the world and was described by the United Nations as "cruel and inhuman."Afterthe outcry, he was not lashed again.

"RaifBadawi, human rights defender inSaudiArabia, has finally beenreleased!" Amnesty International tweeted.

"Thousands of you have mobilized alongside us in the defense ofRaifBadawifor10years. A big thank you to all of you for your tireless support."

Colette Lelievre, a Montreal-based campaign organizer with Amnesty who has worked onBadawi's case, said his release was "a great relief."

"Ensaf was at a loss for words," Lelievre said Friday. "She worked so hard to free her husband that emotions overwhelmed her."

Sauditravel ban

Every Friday for almost sevenyears, Haidar -- who fled to CanadaafterBadawi's arrest and has since become a Canadian citizen -- held a public vigil for him.

She told AFP in late February at the 374th vigil in Sherbrooke, Quebec where she lives that she'd been able to maintain contact with her husband, speaking with him "up to three times a week" by telephone.

Canada's Quebec province has paved the way forBadawito come to the country if he chooses by placing him on a priority list of potential immigrants for humanitarian reasons.

"Finally!" Quebec Premier Francois Legault tweeted Friday about his release, adding: "I keep thinking about the children who will finally see their father!"

No details ofBadawi's release conditions were immediately available.

But Amnesty noted that theSaudibloggercould still face a10-year ban on all travel outsideSaudiArabia, as this had been part of his original sentence.

The NGO added in an email to AFP that it would "actively work to have any conditions lifted."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that he was "relieved thatRaifBadawihas finally beenreleased."

"Our officials are now working to seek clarity on the conditions of his release," he added.

Irwin Cotler, a former Canadian justice minister andBadawi's international legal counsel, said in a statement he hoped that "Saudiauthorities will compassionately allow for his reunification with his wife and young children in Canada."

International non-governmental groups and the United Nations continue to denounce the repression of dissenting voices and the imprisonment of activists inSaudiArabia, despite the kingdom's efforts to improve its image by undertaking certain reforms.

RaifBadawi's sister, SamarBadawi, as well as activist Nassima al-Sadah,releasedin 2021, remain stranded in the kingdom.

A Sunni Muslim like most Saudis,RaifBadawistudied economics and ran an institute for learning English and computer skills, according to his wife.

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Known for his writings in support of freedom of expression, thebloggerwon the 2014 Reporters Without Borders prize in the net-citizen category.

He was also awarded the SakharovPrizefor Freedom by the European Parliament in 2015, and in 2015 and 2016, he was among the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize.