Human rights activists project 'Daesh Bank' onto Saudi Arabia's embassy in Berlin

The light show also called for the release of imprisoned Saudi blogger, Raif Badawi

Matt Payton
Sunday 15 May 2016 16:04 BST
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One of a series of messages projected onto the side of Saudi embassy in Berlin
One of a series of messages projected onto the side of Saudi embassy in Berlin

Human-rights activists have projected the Isis flag and the phrase "Daesh bank" onto the side of the Saudi embassy in Berlin.

The "guerrilla light project" was organised by artist Oliver Bienkowski, who wanted to highlight the country's relationship with the extreme Islamist movement and its much-criticised human rights record.

Saudi Arabia has been accused of indirectly creating Isis through the propagation of its fundamentalist Wahhabist interpretation of Islam.

Saudi Arabia has also been accused of financially supporting extremist rebel groups in Syria.

The country's Government has refuted any suggestion they have funded Isis, citing their work with the US and Italy to prevent people donating to the terror group.

Another message projected onto the Berlin embassy's wall highlighted the treatment of Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes for criticising the government.

The message read as: "10 years and 1000 slashes just for blogging #FREERAIF."

Mr Badawi received the first 50 lashes of his sentence in January last year, but the rest have not been given amid the international outcry and concern for his health.

Inspecting him after the lashes, a team of eight Saudi doctors found him medically unfit to face more flogging.

This is not a permanent suspension and authorities could go through with further punishment despite the reservations about his health.

There have previously been co-ordinated protests calling for Mr Badawi's release outside Saudi embassies in cities across the world including Berlin.

His wife and children are now living in Canada where they were granted asylum after receiving death threats.

Mr Bienkowski is part of the collective Pixel HELPER which organises such projects.

The Independent has contacted Pixel HELPER and the Saudi embassy for comment.

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