UPDATE 1-Imprisoned Saudi blogger's health deteriorating, wife says

(Adds comment from the Canadian government)
By Allison Lampert
MONTREAL, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif
Badawi, recent recipient of a prestigious European human rights
award, has suffered fainting spells and deteriorating health
because of a hunger strike, his wife said on Thursday.
Ensaf Haidar, who was granted asylum in Canada with the
couple's three children, said by phone she hoped her husband
would end a hunger strike he had initiated more than 20 days ago
to protest against his transfer to a different prison in Saudi
Arabia.
A member of Amnesty International in Canada and a
spokeswoman for the Canadian government both said by email they
were not able to confirm the hunger strike.
"Canada remains very concerned by the situation of Mr.
Badawi and we will continue to call for clemency to be granted
in his case," said government spokeswoman Rachna Mishra.
Badawi, who created and managed an online forum, was found
guilty in 2014 of breaking Saudi Arabia's technology laws and of
insulting Islam. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and
1,000 lashes.
He received his first 50 lashes in January, prompting strong
criticism in Western countries of the kingdom's human rights
record.
"I am very worried about him," Haidar said Thursday in
Arabic through an interpreter. "His health, both physical and
mental, is very poor."
She said she last spoke with her husband two weeks ago, and
had been kept informed of Badawi's condition by a contact in
Saudi Arabia whom she declined to identify.
Reuters was unable to independently verify Badawi's
condition.
Officials at the Saudi embassy in Ottawa were not available
for comment.
Haidar, who accepted the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of
Thought on her husband's behalf from the European Parliament on
Dec. 16, said the family had been optimistic after the Swiss
secretary of foreign affairs told media in November that Badawi
could receive a royal pardon.
She said the transfer to a different prison shortly
afterwards was unexpected, and triggered Badawi's hunger strike.
"This was a surprise and counter to what we had heard," she
said. "I hope that this hunger strike is not a sign that he has
given up."
Haidar, who has been separated from Badawi for the last four
years, said she had hoped they would be reunited by the end of
2015.
"I would have loved to enter the new year with my entire
family," she said. "Four years is a long time."