According to the newspaper, Badawi's wife received information that the Saudi criminal court wants him to be subjected to a re-trial for apostasy. The "official sources" claimed that Badawi would face capital punishment if found guilty, The Independent reported.
In 2013, Badawi was sentenced to seven years in prison and 600 lashes for allegedly insulting Islam on the Liberal Saudi Network website in 2008. Following the sentencing, the Saudi appeal court increased the penalty to 10 years of imprisonment and 1,000 lashes, with the weekly flogging of 50 lashes.
Violations of human rights in Saudi Arabia are a great concern of media and rights activists, with Riyadh having a worrisome record on freedom of expression and religious restrictions.
Last year, Badawi's lawyer received a 15-year prison sentence for criticizing Saudi authorities' human rights violations, including against his client.
