The Saudi national, apparently a fan of a rival pop star, was sentenced for "accusing (Kuwaiti singer) Shams of adultery without providing proof," the Saudi Sabq news website cited the verdict as saying.
The ruling is based on Islamic sharia law which stipulates flogging for those who accuse others of having extra-marital sex without giving proof.
The man was also jailed for three months and fined 10,000 riyals ($2,700), the news website said.
Shams had filed a libel case against the man who owned a Twitter account titled in Arabic "the lawyer of Queen Ahlam," another Gulf pop star.
As well as accusing Shams of adultery, he posted fabricated photos depicting her in "obscene" situations, Sabq said, without elaborating.
The microblogging website is hugely popular in Saudi Arabia, which is also one of the 10-most censored countries for media, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.
Some 41% of internet users in the oil-rich kingdom use Twitter, a study published by the US-based Business Insider website found.
Source: AFP, via I-Net Bridge
For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.
We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.
Go to: http://www.inet.co.za
