Saudi Arabia on Friday postponed the next round of flogging for a blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for insulting Islam because his wounds from last week’s beating have not yet healed, his wife said.

Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a punishment, the state human rights commission said Saturday, hailing a “major step forward” in the reform programme launched by the king and his powerful son.

The sentence of 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes has drawn international condemnation but remains in place for Raif Badawi, a blogger who had... Saudi Supreme Court Upholds Blogger's Prison And ...