An Australian in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to a year in prison and 500 lashes for blasphemy.
Mansor Almaribe, 45, from Shepparton, Victoria, originally from Iran, was accused of having insulted companions of the prophet Mohammed.
His family maintains he's done nothing wrong and there are fears that he will not survive the punishment.
The ABC reports Mr Almaribe left Australia to take part in the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca at the end of October Mansor. He was detained in Medina three weeks ago.
On Monday he was found guilty of blasphemy by a Saudi Arabian court and sentenced to a year in jail and 500 lashes.
The offence is a religious one which involves insulting companions of the Prophet Mohammed.
The Australian federal government is urgently seeking leniency for Mr Almaribe, a father of five.
