Saudi blogger's wife accepts EU Sakharov prize for jailed husband

The wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi on Wednesday accepted the European Parliament's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize on his behalf, urging Arab countries to abandon theocratic diktats and embrace free speech.

Ensaf Haidar told the packed assembly that her husband, sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam. 

"It would have been nice if my husband could have received the prize personally," Haidar said as his award was placed on an empty chair.

Haidar entered parliament in the eastern French city of Strasbourg to sustained applause, carrying a framed photograph of her husband and calling for a minute's silence to mark the victims of last month's deadly jihadist attacks in Paris.

Parliament head Martin Schulz called on Saudi King Salman "to grant mercy to Raif Badawi and without further ado release him and allow him to return to his family."

Badawi, 31, was arrested in 2012 and his initial public flogging of 50 lashes in January sparked an international outcry against Saudi Arabia. 

He co-founded the Saudi Liberal Network Internet discussion group which promoted free speech and sought an end to the influence of religious leaders on public life in one of the world's most countries.

Photo Caption: Ensaf Haidar holds a picture of her husband Raif Badawi after accepting the European Parliament's Sakharov human rights prize on his behalf at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on December 16, 2015 (AFP Photo/Patrick Hertzog)