A man who whipped a Muslim convert 40 times as punishment for drinking alcohol and taking drugs because of a "contorted" belief in sharia has been jailed for at least 16 months, with a magistrate saying he had "brought much shame upon the Islamic faith".

Wassim Fayad, 45, was one of four men sentenced on Friday for their assault upon Cristian Martinez in July, 2011.

He was whipped 40 times with an electric cord in his Silverwater home, while three other men held him down on his bed.

On Friday, Magistrate Brian Maloney sentenced Fayad to a maximum two years' imprisonment for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, giving the less culpable trio suspended 18-month sentences, finding they were easily led by their older friend.

Turning to Fayed directly, Mr Maloney said: "Mr Fayad, by your actions you have brought much shame on the Islamic faith.

"You have proved yourself unscrupulously cunning, deceptive and dishonest. You profess to be a religious man; however, you resorted to violence upon Mr Martinez," he said.

In other observations about the case, Mr Maloney said it "was never about the Islamic faith or Islamic law, and my findings bear witness to the fact".

[link to www.smh.com.au]