Man ‘sentenced to death for atheism’ in Saudi Arabia, by Bethan McKernan.

A  man in Saudi Arabia has reportedly been sentenced to death on charges of apostasy after losing two appeals.

Several local media reports identified the man as Ahmad Al Shamri, in his 20s, from the town of Hafar al-Batin, who first came to the authorities’ attention in 2014 after allegedly uploading videos to social media in which he renounced Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.

He was arrested on charges of atheism and blasphemy and held in prison before being convicted by a local court and sentenced to death in February 2015.

At the time Mr Shamri’s defence entered an insanity plea, adding that his client was under the influence of drugs and alcohol at the time of making the videos. …

Atheism not permitted out of the closet:

Last year, a citizen was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 2,000 lashes for expressing atheistic sentiment in hundreds of social media posts.

Mr Shamri’s name and hometown have trended on Arabic-speaking Twitter in the last few days. Some users have even celebrated his sentencing.

“If you’re a lowkey atheist that’s fine. But once you talk in public & criticize God or religion, then you shall be punished,” one such post read.

“I wish there could be live streaming when you cut his head off,” said another.

This is the culture Saudi is exporting all over the world. Good old seventh century Arab culture for ever, everywhere.