europarl.europa.eu: The European Parliament,
– having regard to its previous resolutions of 11 March 2014 on Saudi Arabia, its relations with the EU and its role in the Middle East and North Africa, of 13 December 2007 on Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia, and of 10 March 2005 on Saudi Arabia,
– having regard to the statement by the Spokesperson of HR/VP for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Morgherini on 9 January 2015,
– having regard to art. 5 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
– having regard to UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,
– having regard to art. 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union which declares everyone’s right to freedom of expression, and art. 4 which prohibits torture,
– having regard to the European Union Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, adopted in June 2004, and reviewed in 2008,
– having regard to the Arab Charter on Human Rights whose art. 32 par. 1 guarantees the right to information and freedom of opinion and expression, and art. 8 prohibits physical or psychological torture or cruel, degrading, humiliating or inhuman treatment,
– having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas Raif Badawi, a journalist and human rights activist and a 31-year-old father of three, was sentenced by the Criminal Court of Jeddah in May 2014 to 10 years in prison, 1 000 lashes and a fine of 1 million riyals (228.000 EUR) after creating a website for social, political and religious debate and solely exercising his freedom of expression; whereas he is also banned from using social media indefinitely and from leaving the country ten years after his release;