Malaysian police say they have detained a young Saudi journalist who fled his country after Twitter comments he made about the Prophet Muhammad triggered calls for his execution.
Hamza Kashgari, 23, was taken into custody after flying into Malaysia's main international airport.
The arrest followed a Saudi request to Interpol, said police spokesman Ramli Yoosuf yesterday.
State news agency Bernama said Kashgari was arrested in Muslim-majority Malaysia "for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad".
Last week, on the Prophet's birthday, he tweeted: "I have loved things about you and I have hated things about you and there is a lot I don't understand about you.
"I will not pray for you."
The controversial tweet sparked about 30,000 responses, according to an online service that tracks Twitter postings in the Arab world.
Insulting the Prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is a crime punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
- AAP