Malaysian authorities say they have deported a Saudi journalist who is wanted in his home country for posting Twitter remarks deemed as insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.

Police said 23-year-old columnist Hamza Kashgari was handed over to Saudi officials and flown back Sunday morning.

Kashgari was detained in Malaysia Thursday after fleeing Saudi Arabia. Some Saudis have demanded he be imprisoned or executed for his tweets, which triggered outrage in the country.

Insulting the prophet is considered blasphemous in Islam and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.