A man in Saudi Arabia has been jailed for three years and will receive 450 lashes for using his Twitter account to promote “homosexual contacts”.

Gulf News reports the unnamed 24-year-old was arrested after he posted several tweets allegedly requesting to meet gay men.

Saudi Arabia’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, otherwise known as the religious police, reportedly arrested the man using an undercover agent.

It’s claimed his mobile phone was searched and several “immoral” pictures were discovered, prompting the Commission to refer his case to the public prosecution.

The man was convicted on charges of promoting debauchery.

Imprisoned for three years, he will receive 450 lashes over the course of 15 sessions.

Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Saudi Arabia. Punishments governed by Sharia law can include lashings, fines, floggings, life imprisonment and also death.