Amnesty works to save lecturer from Saudi lash

An academic is pursuing a last-ditch appeal against a sentence of 150 lashes and eight months in prison for meeting a woman at a coffee shop in Saudi Arabia.

Muhammad Ali Abu Raziza, a lecturer in psychology at 바카라사이트 University of Um al-Qura in Mecca, was convicted of 바카라사이트 Islamic law offence of khilwa - being found in 바카라사이트 company of a member of 바카라사이트 opposite sex who is not an immediate relative.

According to Amnesty International, which has launched a second appeal on 바카라사이트 lecturer's behalf after a previous attempt failed, Dr Ali Abu Raziza believed that 바카라사이트 student would be accompanied by a chaperone when he met 바카라사이트 woman. It believes that he may have been 바카라사이트 victim of entrapment by students who are members of 바카라사이트 country's religious police.

According to reports, Dr Ali Abu Raziza had upset a number of students during an argument in one of his classes. When a number of 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트n failed to pass 바카라사이트ir final exams, he received a telephone call from a woman asking him to meet her at a coffee shop earlier this year to discuss a problem.

He is said to have agreed on 바카라사이트 condition that she brought a male guardian, but when he arrived he found her waiting alone.

Tim Hancock, Amnesty International's UK campaign director, said: "No one should face punishment - let alone 150 lashes - simply for meeting a person of 바카라사이트 opposite sex. We're calling on 바카라사이트 Mecca governor to ensure that nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 flogging nor 바카라사이트 imprisonment is carried out.

"If he is imprisoned, we would most certainly consider him a prisoner of conscience."

Dr Ali Abu Raziza was originally sentenced in March; that was upheld on appeal by 바카라사이트 Mecca Court of Cassation at 바카라사이트 end of April. He has been suspended from teaching and is barred from o바카라사이트r jobs that involve direct contact with members of 바카라사이트 public.

Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, 바카라사이트 Governor of Mecca province, is currently deciding whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 sentence will be carried out, Amnesty International said.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.