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Drink-drive student to get 80 lashes

The Sharjah Shariah Court has ordered a Muslim student receive 80 lashes as punishment for consuming liquor.

The 20-year-old Arab student who was studying business in Sharjah University had gone to a hotel, accompanied by a friend, to drink alcohol — which is forbidden in the Muslim religion.

He was later caught by the police in Sharjah while he was driving under the influence of alcohol. The student told the judge that he regretted his actions and appealed to the court to release him after spending seven days in jail. He claimed he had missed five important examinations which would affect his overall performance at the university.

The student argued that he was not aware of his actions because he was drunk at the time when he drove the car, claiming it was the first time that he had consumed alcohol and only did so after his friend offered it to him.

The judge told the student that he was in the country to study, and as a resident, he should have respected the laws of the emirate.

The judge said that the court had reduced the jail sentence after considering the circumstances but informed the student that he would be lashed and released on the same day.

amira@khaleejtimes.com