Story highlights Saudi activist's flogging delayed on medical grounds, his wife says

A friend calls the delay "definitely encouraging"

(CNN) A Saudi Arabian rights activist sentenced to prison and 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam will not be flogged Friday because of medical reasons, his wife said.

Raif Badawi, convicted on charges that included insulting Islam, had been scheduled to receive the second of 20 sentenced floggings after Friday prayers in Jeddah. He received the first flogging on January 9.

JUST WATCHED Saudi blogger receives first 50 of 1,000 lashes Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Saudi blogger receives first 50 of 1,000 lashes 02:28

A doctor who examined him before the scheduled flogging determined that his wounds had not yet healed and that the flogging should be delayed, human rights group Amnesty International said.

"The doctor concluded that the wounds had not yet healed properly and that he would not be able to withstand another round of lashes at this time," Amnesty International said in a statement.

Badawi's wife, Ensaf Haida, said from her home in Canada that she expects the floggings to resume next Friday.

Read More