500 Lashes for Australian Convicted of Blasphemy in Saudi Arabia

CNN reported today that an Australian has been sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in prison in Saudi Arabia for allegedly blaspheming against Mohammed's relatives. The Australian, a 45-year-old man named Mansor Almaribe, was in Medina on a pilgramage when arrested last month. According to the report, it's unclear what Almaribe, a Muslim, said that led to the arrest. His case is now under appeal, and the Australian government has pressed for leniency. According to the article, blasphemy is a potential capital crime in Saudi Arabia.