Victorian man Mansor Almaribe heads home after Saudi lashing ordeal

Mansor Alamribe will arrive home tomorrow morning. Picture: Herald Sun.

A VICTORIAN man is heading home after being spared 425 lashes in Saudi Arabia where he was found guilty of blasphemy. 

Father-of-five Mansor Almaribe has already copped 75 lashes in horrid jail conditions since he was sentenced in November.

His family feared he would die because of his ailing health if the sentence was not waived.
Son Isaam Almaribe, 21, today told of his joy.

"We are feeling so happy - he is finally coming home," he said.

"We are all shocked because we have never been through this feeling before.

Isaam said the entire family would come together for an emotional reunion at the airport.
"We are just going to have a big party there for now," he said.


Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was in regular contact with Saudi authorities begging for leniency.
Sharman Stone, federal MP for Murray, said community support for his release had been overwhelming.

"At that meeting (with Saudi officials) just before Christmas we presented petitions with hundreds of signatures of local and interstate people pleading for mercy and understanding, and the immediate release of Mr Almaribe,” she said.

Mr Almaribe, a Shi'ite Muslim, was detained while praying in the Sunni-dominated country while making the Hajj pilgrimage to Medina.

Mr Almaribe arrives in Melbourne tomorrow morning.