Convicted man asks to be deported immediately

A Saudi court sentenced a Christian Asian man to two years in prison and ordered him lashed 200 times after he was caught with a woman inside his apartment, a newspaper reported on Monday.

The man, in his 50s, immediately rejected the verdict by the court in the capital Riaydh and demanded deportation, saying Islamic law should not be enforced on him on the grounds he is not Moslem. 

"I know that Islam does not approve of relationships outside marriage but in my religion, this is acceptable…I asked the judge to deport me since the case involves me and one of my country women,” the man said.

Sabq newspaper said the defendant, who had lived with the woman for nearly a year, refused to leave the court room after the judge handed down the sentence but he was told he must accept the local laws since he is living in Saudi Arabia and ought to respect its traditions.

It was not clear when he would be flogged and whether his girl friend was also sentenced.

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