The man appeared in Riyadh Erie court in Saudi Arabia accused of joining Islamic State in Afghanistan, where it controls small amounts of territory in the east of the country.

But in his defence, the man said he believed the “military fitness program” he joined was simply a ‘fat camp’.

The court heard that the man had passed his training at a secretive military training centre.

The outcome of the man’s case is not expected to be made publicly known under Saudi court rules, the Daily Star reports.