Christian man gets 39 lashes and one year in jail for marrying a Muslim - is free

Elie Deeb Ghalib, 30, a Lebanese Christian was jailed for adultery in the United Arab Emirates after he married a UAE Muslim woman of Yemeni origin, 25 year-old Mona Juedi in June 1995.

He was arrested for breaking Islamic marriage laws after her parents complained to authorities. He was sentenced to one year in jail and 39 lashes.

Under Islamic law, a Muslim man can marry a woman of another religion but Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man.

Mona apparently escaped the law because she went to the United States to complete her studies.

On August 5 Elie was set free from his prison and he is now back to his work in a hotel in Al Ain In Abu Dhabi.