The son of an Australian man who received 75 lashes in Saudi Arabia says his family is pleased his father is returning home. Mansor Almaribe, from Shepparton in Victoria, was found guilty of blasphemy by a court in Saudi Arabia last December. The 45-year-old father of five was arrested in the city of Medina on November 14 while making the Hajj pilgrimage and accused of insulting companions of the prophet Mohammed. Advertisement: Story continues below He was originally sentenced to 500 lashes and a year in jail in Saudi Arabia, with his family fearing that he would not survive the punishment. The sentence was later reduced to 75 lashes. One of his sons, Sam, said the family had mixed emotions about the circumstances of his return. "We are all sad about the lashes but we're still happy that my dad is finally coming back," Mr Almaribe told Macquarie Radio on Thursday. Sam Almaribe said the family was yet to speak to their father, with all communication so far going through his lawyer. The federal MP for Mr Almaribe's electorate of Murray, Sharman Stone, said the ambassador for Saudi Arabia was understanding when she led a delegation to his Canberra headquarters before Christmas. "At that meeting just before Christmas we presented petitions with hundreds of signatures of local and interstate people pleading for mercy and understanding, and the immediate release of Mr Almaribe," Dr Stone said in a statement on Thursday. Mr Almaribe's plane is due to land at Melbourne Airport early on Friday morning.
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