A 74-year old British man could face up to 360 lashes after already spending a year in a Saudi prison. His crime? Transporting a bottle of homemade wine in his car. Alcohol is illegal in the Saudi Kingdom.
According to his daughter, Kirsten Prioth, Karl Andree has suffered from three types of cancer and might not survive the lashes. Andree is also asthmatic and suffers from gout.
Andree's family is working with British officials to secure his release and the Prime Minister's office says they have discussed the matter with the Saudi government several times. Mrs. Prioth claims she was "led to believe" that following the completion of his sentence that Andree would be released without receiving lashings, but that now Saudi officials are signaling that this may not be the case.
"He's got a great spirit but his bodily health is not great and I just feel like he received his sentence and he did his time and I just want him home now."
In an interview with The Guardian, Andree's son, Simon Andree appealed to the Saudi government to grant his father clemency in respect to the lashings.
Saudi Arabia is well known for dishing out severe punishments for a variety of "crimes" including women driving, adultery, homosexuality and drug smuggling. Drug smuggling is punishable by death.