VHP appealed to Saudi Arabia to release Anojan Sivarasa after his death sentence was overturned. The case has intensified scrutiny of blasphemy laws, religious equality and human rights.
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Newdelhi,Oct 14, 2026 20:26 IST
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday sought the release of Sri Lankan Hindu youth Anojan Sivarasa after Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturned his death sentence in a blasphemy case. Sivarasa, 27, had been convicted over a comment about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad posted on Facebook.
VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal appealed to the Saudi Arabian government to ensure justice for Sivarasa and his family. The migrant worker's case had caused concern in Sri Lanka and prompted diplomatic efforts to seek clemency.
"Anojan Sivarasa should be released from jail and justice should be served to him," Bansal told PTI.
Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September after being convicted of blasphemy over the Facebook comment. Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed in a Facebook post that the verdict had been overturned.
Bansal said one-sided punishment would make a mockery of the law and encourage discrimination. In a separate post on X, he appealed to the Saudi Arabian government to ensure justice for Sivarasa and his family.
"We appeal to the Government of Saudi Arabia, particularly King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, to reconsider Anojan's death sentence and ensure justice to the Hindu youth and his family," he said.
"Whether it is Pakistan, Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia, serious questions are bound to arise over the one-sided interpretation and blatant, unequal misuse of blasphemy laws," Bansal said.
"When the faith, deities and religious symbols of non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, are insulted, should the same laws and punishments not apply equally? Will only Hindus be held accountable under the pretext of Islamic beliefs and laws, while those who hurt Hindu religious sentiments continue to enjoy protection?" he asked.
Bansal also questioned what he described as the silence of secular groups and intellectuals around the world over "anti-Hindu incidents".
"Hurting anyone's religious sentiments is unacceptable, regardless of whose sentiments are involved. However, granting immunity to some while sentencing others to death is equally unacceptable," he said.
He also asked global human rights organisations and the United Nations whether human rights and religious freedom were equal for everyone, and urged the UN Human Rights Council to intervene.
"The global community is expected to demonstrate sensitivity towards equality before the law and the protection of Hindu faith and the human rights of Sanatanis as well," Bansal said.
Sivarasa was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals over a comment he made on Facebook during an argument. Although he promptly deleted the comment and posted an apology video, a screenshot was brought to the attention of his employer and Saudi officials, leading to his arrest in July.
The case caused concern in Sri Lanka and led to diplomatic efforts to seek clemency. After Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturned Sivarasa's death sentence, the VHP called for his release and urged the Saudi government and international bodies to ensure justice for him and his family.
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