350 Lashes For British Man?

The children of a British man, 74, who as per Saudi Arabian law will be publicly flogged, are appealing to Prime Minister, Cameron to intervene because they fear the flogging could kill him.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...n-350-lashes-saudi-arabia-david-cameron#img-1

Saudi Arabian law strictly prohibits alcohol. When bottles of home made wine were found in the car of this expat, he was promptly arrested and is to be publicly flogged for breaking that law. Will Cameron's intervention make any difference?

 

I am not sure that David Cameron will be able to do anything to stop this from happening. I don't believe his intervention will make a difference. I think it is sad that flogging still exists in some countries. 350 lashes is a lot for one person to take. Yes he broke the law but I am sure there are better ways to deal with it then my flogging.

 

Well it is sad that it has to come to this. I think someone needs to move Saudi Arabia into the 21st century. I wonder why the man would take such a chance though when he must have known the penalty for this. I hope that Cameron's intervenes and at least gets the man's sentence commuted. Having homemade wine should not be a death sentence.

 

I hope he makes Cameroon makes a difference but it is very unlikely since Saudi Arabia will want to show their people that they cannot be influenced by the West.

 

I'm inclined to think he brought it on himself. Alcohol is not permitted in Saudi Arabia so this man must have known he was breaking the law. However, I do think flogging is maybe a step too far. A hefty fine might be in order instead.

 

There are talks going on saying that this situation could harm relations between the UK and the Saudi's, and while I tend to think that he broke the laws of their country and so bought it upon himself, I do think that the punishment is maybe a little too harsh. Will Cameron's intervention make any difference? I doubt it. They will want the punishment to stick and if they do change the punishment it could be seen in the eyes of others that they are weak, and I don't think that is the impression the Saudi's want to give the world.

 

I would have thought the grounds to stop this would be that surely giving a man of that age 350 lashings could endanger his life? I'm sure IF Cameron bothers to intervene then that will be the argument against it happening.

 

I think that old man will be publicly flogged anyway. They'll want to prove to everyone that no one is above the law. Had this been handled the right way, keep the details away from the media there might have been some hope for the old man but when it's all in the media it's highly doubtful that the Saudis will back down now.

 

Completely agree and as I said they won't want to be seen as a weak nation and so I doubt they will back down. I think the way they see it is that he broke the law and despite his age the punishment is set in stone.