A Saudi journalist wanted in the kingdom for comments deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was arrested after being deported from Malaysia and will face charges of blasphemy, a report said Monday. Hamza Kashgari, “was taken into custody as he arrived in Riyadh on Sunday night,” reported the English-language daily Arab News, citing “informed sources.” “The sources said Kashgari was accompanied by Saudi officials on his flight to King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh,” Arab News reported.
He “will face charges of blasphemy,” the sources told the daily. Kashgari, 23, was detained in Malaysia last week after fleeing Saudi Arabia in fear of his life after his Twitter post about the prophet sparked outrage. Human rights groups had warned that deporting Kashgari would be akin to a death sentence and urged Muslim-majority Malaysia to free him.