Raif Badawi a Saudi citizen, was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for creating public debate forum on religion. Unconfirmed footage has been released of Raif Badawi receiving his lashings as punishment for "insulting Islam."

Raif Badawi was originally arrested in 2012 after creating an online forum that encouraged open discussion on faith. The charges are for articles he wrote criticizing religious authority figures in Saudi Arabia, as well as others contributed by other writers that he published.

His wife and children Najwa, Tirad and Myriyam were forced to flee for Canada fearing their safety.

The 31-year-old Saudi narrowly missed the death sentence when the prosecution called for 'apostasy' (which is used when a person abandons their religion). This crime would have carried the death penalty.

Amnesty international has denounced the sentencing, urging the Saudi government to allow their people freedom of speech.

"If authorities ignore widespread criticism and unashamedly continue with the flogging of Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia would be demonstrating contempt for international law and disregard for world opinion," said Said Boumedouha, Deputy Director of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Programme.

"Flogging and other forms of corporal judicial punishment violate the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. By continuing to dole out this inhuman punishment the Saudi Arabian authorities are flagrantly flouting basic human rights principles."

In 2012, an Australian man received 75 lashes for insulting the companions of the prophet Mohammed. It is quite apparent that Saudi Arabia is not a country that jokes around with their religious laws.

"Since March 2011 the Saudi Arabian authorities have continued their campaign of repression in the name of security," Amnesty said.

"They have cracked down on peaceful activists calling for reforms and protesting against human rights violations."

With Saudi Arabia being ruled by a royal family that wields absolute power, it doesn't look like the situation will improve anytime soon.