A British grandfather is facing a punishment of 360 lashes in Saudi Arabia for making home-made wine. Will the old man survive this?
Karl Andree
Karl Andree, a 74-year-old originally from south London, was arrested in August last year when police found bottles of wine in his car.
The family of a UK pensioner caught with homemade wine in Saudi Arabia say the punishment of 360 lashes to which he was sentenced would kill him.
74 year old Karl Andree has already spent more than a year in prison since being arrested by Saudi religious police.
The Foreign Office said it was "seeking his release as soon as possible".
Mr Andree's daughter, Kirsten Piroth, said: “My dad broke the rules in a country that does not allow alcohol but he has now served his time. He was sentenced to 12 months, 14 months ago."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our embassy staff are continuing to assist Mr Andree, including regular visits to check on his welfare, and frequent contact with his lawyer and family.
“Ministers and senior officials have raised Mr Andree’s case with the Saudi Government and we are actively seeking his release as soon as possible.”
There is a strict alcohol ban in the conservative Islamic kingdom, that still widely practices capital punishment.
Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country in which Islamic law is strictly enforced.
The Foreign Office says visitors should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times. They include:
The public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal, as is an intention to convert others Islamic codes of behaviour and dress are strictly enforced. Women should wear conservative, loose-fitting clothes as well as a full length cloak (abaya) and headscarf.
Men should not wear shorts in public.
It is illegal for women to drive.
Homosexual acts and adultery are illegal and can be subject to severe sanctions
Penalties for the possession of, or trade in, alcohol are severe. Both result in prison sentences
Bringing medication to the country requires a doctor’s prescription
Importing pork products is forbidden
The possession of pornographic material - or of illustrations of scantily dressed people, especially women - is prohibited
The punishment for smuggling drugs includes the death penalty
Photographing government buildings, military installations and palaces is not allowed
It is illegal to hold two passports in Saudi Arabia and a second will be confiscated by immigration authorities
Source: Foreign Office