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Saturday, 11 February 2012

Hishammuddin Confirms Arrest Of Saudi Arabian Newspaper Columnist

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 10 (Bernama) - Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein has confirmed the arrest of Saudi Arabian newspaper columnist Mohammad Najeeb A Kashgari at KL International Airport (KLIA) Thursday.

Hishammuddin said the Saudi citizen better known as Hamza Kashgari, 23, was arrested by police at about 9.40am at the request of Saudi Arabian authorities for reportedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

"The police have been in contact with authorities in Saudi Arabia to determine further action," he said in a statement Friday.

Bernama Thursday quoted an Interpol source that the columnist was arrested by police shortly after his arrival at KLIA.

Hamza was reported to have made posting that insulted Islam via social networking site Twitter, causing outrage in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi media said Hamza made posting on Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration last week, implying that he was interacting with the prophet, as if they were of equal status.

Hamza also said that he liked some characteristics of the prophet while others were not to his liking.

Following Hamza's posting, some 30,000 Twitter entries venting anger were made in less than 24 hours.

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