Saudi sex 'braggart' is sentenced to 1,000 lashes and five years in prison

A Saudi man who bragged on television about his sexual exploits was jailed for five years and sentenced to 1,000 lashes yesterday.

A lawyer for Mazen Abdul-Jawad said he would appeal against his conviction for talking publicly about sex, which is taboo in ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia.

He was also banned from travelling and talking to the media for five years after his release. His lawyer, Sulaiman al-Jumeii, maintains that his client was duped by the Lebanese satellite channel LBC, which aired the segment on a chat show, and in many instances he was unaware he was being recorded.

"I hope you will not consider the case closed," the lawyer said. "I will continue pursuing the TV channel, even if no one stands by me, until it gets the punishment it deserves."

The show, Bold Red Line, was shown in July and scandalised Saudi Arabia. About 200 people filed legal complaints against Abdul-Jawad, who was called a "sex braggart" and "Casanova" by the media.

The show began with him describing the first time he had sex at 14. He then showed off a collection of sex toys in his bedroom and was joined by three male friends for a discussion about what turned them on.

Abdul-Jawad says he was referring to other people's experiences and that LBC provided the toys. The government swiftly shut LBC's Saudi offices and arrested Abdul-Jawad after the show aired.