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| Down Under | ||
| Saudis bar Aussie diplomats in blasphemy case | ||
| 2011-12-02 | ||
| Saudi Arabia has refused to allow Australian officials to visit a Australian citizen and father of five imprisoned in the kingdom for almost three weeks after being accused of blasphemy. The family of Mansor Almaribe -- detained in Medina on November 14 and accused of insulting Mohammed's companions -- has serious fears for his health as he suffers from diabetes and heart disease. Almaribe has been unable to afford a lawyer and won't be provided one under Saudi law. His case is expected in court tomorrow, where sentence will be passed. An Arabic-speaking Australian official from the embassy in Riyadh went 900 kilometers to the jail in Medina on Wednesday but was refused entry. The Directorate of Prisons in Medina also would not allow access to Almaribe, claiming the Saudi foreign affairs ministry must first approve any visit. The Australian embassy had filed a request for access days beforehand. Visits are made difficult because only followers of Islamic faith may enter Medina. Almaribe, a Shiite Muslim,
The Australian official was told Almaribe was in "fine" health, was given showers, and had seen a prison doctor. But the Saudis would not allow a doctor arranged by the embassy to visit Almaribe. The prison officials did accept a copy of Almaribe's medical records sent from Australia. Australian officials have assured Almaribe's family that they have not been able to find any past examples of people being executed for crimes of the type he is accused.
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| Posted by:ryuge |
| #1 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life' from Life of Brian. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-12-02 11:16 |