FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has been called on to personally intervene on behalf of Mansor Almaribe, who was sentenced to 500 lashes in Saudi Arabia.

The Federal Government is "urgently'' seeking leniency for Mr Almaribe, 45, from Shepparton who was sentenced to a year in jail and 500 lashes in Saudi Arabia for religious offences.

The father-of-five was charged with blasphemy last month while participating in the Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca.

It has been reported he had been reading and praying in a group when accosted by religious police and arrested.

He was detained in the city of Medina on November 14.

The Shiite Muslim was initially sentenced to two years in jail and 500 lashes but then reduced the sentence to one year and 500 lashes.

Mr Almaribe is a constituent of Liberal MP Sharman Stone, who has called on Mr Rudd to intervene, and "even perhaps to remove the sentence altogether if that can be achieved", she said.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade today said the Australian ambassador had been in touch with Saudi authorities and and was providing consular assistance to Mr Almaribe's family.

"The Ambassador will urgently pursue avenues for leniency with relevant authorities," a spokeswoman said.

Australian officials have struggled to get to Mr Almaribe with one being refused entry at the prison door and also because only followers of Islamic faith may enter Medina, under Saudi law.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was keeping in close contact with the Australian ambassador in Saudi Arabia, the spokeswoman said.

"The ambassador has urgently contacted Saudi authorities and will make strong representations, including to several key figures in the Saudi government, seeking leniency," the spokeswoman told AAP.

"There are formal avenues for doing this under Saudi law."

A consular official attended the sentencing, where Mr Almaribe was initially given a two-year jail term, which was subsequently reduced.

DFAT is also in talks with the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Australia on the matter.

One of the man's sons, Mohammed, told the ABC on Wednesday his father had serious health problems.

"Five hundred slashes on his back and he has back problems. I wouldn't think he'd survive 50," he said.

Originally published as Plea for Aussie facing 500 lashes