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There are many reasons why the Canadian government should condemn Saudi Arabia for torturing a blogger more strongly than it has (only issuing a “concerned” public request for clemency), and many reasons why it should have condemned the torture much sooner than it did (only making its request five days after the first 50 lashes of 1,000, and only after the Globe and Mail pressed it about apparent trade meetings with Saudi royals). But three reasons are so compelling that they deserve emphasis, though they’re so obvious that they shouldn’t need it.

First, the Canadian government has a stronger relationship with liberal blogger Raif Badawi — and a greater responsibility to convince Saudi Arabia to stop torturing him — than any other government. But because the blogger isn’t Canadian, the Canadian government claims it can’t do much.

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That’s transparently craven wishful thinking. While Badawi can’t assert the consular rights of a Canadian citizen, his wife and children live in Canada. This inconvenient fact gives our officials the right (albeit one they’re afraid to exercise) to push vigorously for the blogger’s release. According to the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neve, Canada is the most suitable defender that Badawi has.