Saudi Teacher jailed for praising Jews

A teacher in Saudi Arabia was sentenced to 40 months in jail and 750 lashes for discussing the Bible and praising Jews.

Secondary school teacher Mohammed al-Harbi, who will be flogged in public, was taken to court by his colleagues and students, according to the Saudi newspaper Al-Madina.

He was charged with promoting a ′dubious ideology, mocking religion, saying the Jews were right, discussing the Gospel and preventing students from leaving class to wash for prayer,′ the newspaper disclosed.

Mr al-Harbi is apparently to receive 50 lashes each week for 15 weeks, in in the public market in the town of Al- Bikeriya in Al-Qassim. He was the school activities organizer at the Al-Fowailiq High School in the town of Ein Al-Juwa in Al-Qassim. Following a terrorist attack at the Al-Hamra Compound in Riyadh in 2003, Al-Harbi used his position as an educator to enlighten his students and warn them of terrorism and its consequences.

He went to great lengths by talking to students, hanging anti-terrorism signs around the school and speaking out against terrorism.