strange case in saudi

[esperanza]

BBC
The man had travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage An Australian man has been sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in prison after being convicted of blasphemy by judges in Saudi Arabia.

Officials in Canberra said they had been in touch with the Saudi authorities to request leniency.

Australian reports named the man as 45-year-old Mansor Almaribe from Shepparton in Victoria.

Reports said he was chronically ill and family members said they were extremely worried about his health.

"Five hundred lashes on his back, and he has back problems. I wouldn't think he'd survive 50," his son Mohammed told Australia's ABC News.

Almaribe had travelled to the country for a pilgrimage to Mecca.

He was arrested nearly a month ago, but details of the charges against him have not been made public.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said the judge initially handed down a sentence of two years in jail and 500 lashes, but later reduced the jail time.

 

[esperanza]

Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, December 7, 7:50 AM
SYDNEY — An Australian man has been sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in a Saudi Arabian jail after being convicted of blasphemy, officials said Wednesday.

The 45-year-old man, identified by family members as Mansor Almaribe of southern Victoria state, was detained in the holy city of Medina last month while making the Muslim pilgrimage of hajj. Family members told Australian media that Saudi officials accused him of insulting the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, a violation of Saudi Arabia’s strict blasphemy laws.


i..Australia’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia has contacted Saudi authorities in a bid for leniency, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Consular officials are providing support for the man and his family in Australia.

“The Australian government is universally opposed to corporal punishment,” the department said in a statement.

Almaribe was convicted of blasphemy on Tuesday and initially sentenced to two years in jail and 500 lashes. The court later reduced his jail sentence.

Almaribe’s son Jamal told The Age newspaper that his father was reading and praying as part of a group when he was arrested.

Almaribe’s son Mohammed said he feared for his father’s well-being. “Five hundred slashes on his back, and he has back problems. I wouldn’t think he’d survive 50,” he told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

[Shak78]

What did he say that is considered Blasphemy?

 

[esperanza]

What did he say that is considered Blasphemy?

well im not sure..tried some other news channels but have not found out

 

[Hard Rock Moslem]

Why should make it public the offence he made? Perhaps it can cause embarrassment to his family and to safeguard his chaste. Otherwise, I do not see why they need to keep out of public. The question is, why 500 lashes?

 

[MuslimShadow]

What did he say that is considered Blasphemy?

here in India, newspapers reported that he spoke against the companions of the prophet(p.b.u.h).

 

[esperanza]

here in India, newspapers reported that he spoke against the companions of the prophet(p.b.u.h).

yes thast what this report said ,,but why go to hajj then say something bad ..strange

 

[Hard Rock Moslem]

here in India, newspapers reported that he spoke against the companions of the prophet(p.b.u.h).

Only shia will do that, unless he is? Again, any information on why 500 lashes?

 

[Perseveranze]

Asalaamu Alaikum,

Not really strange, he is likely a Shia. And from what I know, Shia's tend to insult the wives(ra) and companians(ra) of the Prophet(pbuh).

There's a very good reason why Muslims have such tension with Shia's, not because of their deviant beliefs, but because of insults against Sahaba/wives (ra).

 

[John Smith]

Anyone who insults the wifes of our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) & His Beloved Companions (RA) desreves more than 500 lashes, Allah Swt is pleased with them all yet some muppetts think they can go around willy nilly spouting vile rehtoric is just not acceptable,no way.

Increase the lashes i say,its time to stamp out this act of aggression towards the companions & wives (RA) of the prophet (PBUH) who sacrficed everything they had & died establishing this ummah.

 

[khangul]

Only shia will do that, unless he is? Again, any information on why 500 lashes?

:salam2:

i had the same thing in my mind.

 

[Seeker-of-truth]

wallahi he deserves to beheaded filthy animal scum of the earth I hope those 500 lashes kill him how dare he