Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for 'insulting Islam' is spared from being flogged for the third week in a row, his wife said.

The flogging of a Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in prison for insulting Islam has been postponed for the third week in a row, his wife said.

Raef Badawi, 30, received the first 50 lashes of his sentence outside a mosque in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on January 9.

The next round was postponed for the following two weeks on medical grounds.

Now his wife Ensaf Haidar said he 'was not flogged' today either, adding that the reason was unclear. 

Leaked video footage taken on a mobile phone purported to show the first flogging session, as a shackled and standing Mr Badawi was hit on his legs and back by a policeman with a switch

Her comments came just a day after the second round of the 31-year-old's flogging was postponed a second time due to medical concerns.

Only a few days ago Saudi Arabia was accused of 'outrageous inhumanity' after it initially delayed the father of three's flogging sentence so his wounds could heal before he was whipped again.

Saudi Arabia has come under huge international pressure after Mr Badawi's plight was championed by human rights campaigners. 

The 31-year-old won support from governments and human rights groups around the world after he was sentenced to the hefty jail time, a £177,000 fine and the lashes.