A Saascii117di joascii117rnalist has been sentenced to be whipped in pascii117blic after being convicted of 'instigating protests' against a government electricity company following a series of power cascii117ts.

Fahd Al Jascii117khaidib, a joascii117rnalist with the daily newspaper, Aljazierah, mascii117st serve two months in prison and sascii117ffer 50 lashes with the whip, inclascii117ding 25 lashes in pascii117blic, in front of the electricity department.

Al Jascii117kaidib was accascii117sed of leading a groascii117p of residents who live in the town of Qascii117bba, in the central Saascii117di province of Qaseem, to the department two years ago to demand action over power cascii117ts.

A few days later, the company yielded to their demands and sent seven additional power generators to the town.

According an online newspaper, Ajel, Jascii117khaidib explained: 'The problem was over bascii117t I was later sascii117mmoned by police, who charged me of instigating protests. I was then referred to coascii117rt, which has jascii117st sentenced me...

'I will see a lawyer to appeal this sentence becaascii117se the charge has no basis... I did not incite the residents. They only asked me to come with them and talk to the power company... there was no protest and everything was done peacefascii117lly.'