A 74-year-old British man faces 350 lashes for having wine in Saudi Arabia

[oberliner]

Karl Andree is a 74-year-old British grandfather. For the past 25 years, he has lived in Saudi Arabia, working with local oil companies. According to his children, he was quite happy there, even when his wife, Verity, was forced to return to Britain to help cope with her worsening Alzheimer's.

However, Andree has suffered serious problems in Saudi Arabia over the past year — and his problems may well spell trouble for relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia.

On Aug. 25, 2014, he was arrested by religious police in Jiddah after they allegedly found bottles of homemade wine in his car. He has served a one-year prison sentence for possessing alcohol, which is illegal in the conservative Islamic country. However, he has not been released — and his family said he now faces 350 lashes in a public flogging.

“My dad broke the rules in a country that does not allow alcohol, but he’s served his time," his daughter, Kirsten, told the Sun tabloid this week. "Dad is 74 and not a well man. I worry he won’t survive this ordeal.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/10/13/a-74-year-old-british-man-faces-350-lashes-for-having-wine-in-saudi-arabia/

[hollysmom]

1. Oh forgoodnesssakes, we all know that people drink all the time in Saudi

a man who lived there for decades probably drank there regularly, interesting how he is arrested last year. They want something from Brinton - the threat predated the pullout of prison expertise pullout, so you have to wonder if they were forewarned and are using this or if it is something else they want from the government.
Saudis are such great friends, I think of that when I look toward lower manhattan. So thrilled Bush protected them.

[lame54]

2. That racist Bill Maher

[world wide wally]

3. Sounds like what the Republican theocrats pretend to want

[hifiguy]

4. Any place that has "religious police"

does not deserve to be regarded as a civilized society.

Saudi Arabia = the anus mundi. And they prove it every week or so.

[Arugula Latte]

5. Good thing Islam is the Religion of Peace, huh?

[LanternWaste]

6. No more and no less than America is the Bastion of Liberty.

No more and no less than America is the Bastion of Liberty.

[closeupready]

7. lol at bigots with an agenda trying to piggyback on this news item

to prove their bigotry isn't bigotry.