Mr Hayter may escape flogging

Press, 11 August 1980, Page 2

Mr Hayter may escape flogging

NZPA London A New Zealander, Timothy Hayter, is expected to be released by the Saudi Arabian authorities, free to leave the country without a public flogging. Negotiations with the Saudi authorities conducted mainly by the British Foreign Office on behalf of New Zealand, are believed to have reached a delicate stage. Mr Hayter may possibly have already been freed, but this has no’t been able to be confirmed.’ ' i New Zealand diplomats Basing with their British counterparts have said nothing, but the release ' of a British couple, Richard and Penelope Arnot, is believed to be a sign that similar clemency will be shown towards 'Mr Hayter, who was' imprisoned late last year : along with the Amots and

two Germans after a drinking party. Alcohol is forbidden under Islamic law in Saudi Arabia and Mr Hayter was sentenced to 80 lashes, which, according to Muslim custom, would have been carried out in public. But under the same custom the flogging would have been administered by a man with a copy of the Koran tucked under his armpit, thus reducing considerably the severity of the strokes. The British Foreign Secretary (Lord Carrington) is due to visit Jeddah later this month following the resumption of full diplomatic relations between the two countries after a row over the showing of the controversial television documentary, “Death Of A Princess.” The film was not screened in New Zealand, which may be a point in Mr Hayter’s favour. A British couple tells of I time in .Saudi jail, Page 7.