Saudi Arabia: Australian man faces 500 lashes for blasphemy

Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:24 pm » by **Abdul14**

The first 100 or so are probably the worst

The family of an Australian man sentenced to a year in jail and 500 lashes in Saudi Arabia says he will not survive the punishment.

Mansor Almaribe, a 45-year-old father of five from Shepparton in northern Victoria, was found guilty of blasphemy by a Saudi Arabian court yesterday.

Almaribe had travelled to the country for a pilgrimage to Mecca and was arrested nearly a month ago.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) says the judge initially handed down a sentence of two years in jail and 500 lashes, but then cut the jail time.

One of the man's sons, Mohammed, says his father has serious health problems.

"Five hundred slashes on his back, and he has back problems. I wouldn't think he'd survive 50," he said.

Almaribe's local federal MP, Sharman Stone, has called on Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene.

She says Almaribe did not have legal representation because he could not afford it, and will not lodge an appeal in case his sentence is extended.

"[I call on] Mr Rudd to be personally involved and make sure that all that is possibly able to be done to reduce this sentence [is done], even perhaps to remove the sentence all together if that can be achieved," she said.

DFAT says the Australian ambassador has been in touch with Saudi authorities and the department is providing consular assistance to Almaribe's family in Australia.

DFAT says the ambassador will urgently pursue avenues for leniency with the relevant authorities.

The director of the Australian National University's centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Amin Saikal, says the sentence of 500 lashes seems harsh.

"I think it really depends on the nature of what he's been convicted for. But 500 lashes certainly seems excessive. The Saudi authorities and particular the legal authorities would have to really justify that."

abc.net.au

Wed Dec 07, 2011 6:33 pm » by **Kinninigan**

What did he do, it never mentions it? And this is the Holy land for Islam?

As far as Saudi Arabia, why we do business with these sick twisted imbreed royals anyway?

Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:27 am » by **Abdul14**

kinninigan wrote:What did he do, it never mentions it?

some pakistani forum claims he commited religious offences and that he is a Shiite Muslim
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.p ... k-leniency

Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:14 am » by **dlslith**

Archaic and barbaric. The stone age is long gone for f'ks sake

Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:34 am » by **Aragajag**

When in Rome roam, when in Saudi Arabia be very scared even if you are a muslim.

Thu Dec 08, 2011 3:10 pm » by **Kinninigan**

abdul14 wrote:
kinninigan wrote:What did he do, it never mentions it?

some pakistani forum claims he commited religious offences and that he is a Shiite Muslim
http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.p ... k-leniency

This is the same as the Vatican lashing a Protestant 500 times for visiting the Vatican and not being catholic. Islam is FULL RETARD!