- A 27-year-old Sri Lankan worker faced execution in Saudi Arabia after a court found him guilty of insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook comment
- Anojan Sivarasa's case drew international attention after human rights groups urged Saudi Arabia not to carry out the sentence
- Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister confirmed the Supreme Court had cancelled the death sentence, though Sivarasa's legal status remained unclear
A Sri Lankan migrant worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment has had his execution overturned by the country's Supreme Court, in a case that drew widespread concern from human rights groups and diplomatic pressure from Colombo.
Source: UGC
Anojan Sivarasa, 27, was originally convicted of insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad and sentenced to death in September.
Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister, Arun Hemachandra, confirmed the Supreme Court had cancelled the sentence, acknowledging the efforts of officials and legal teams from both nations.
How the Facebook Comment Led to His Arrest
The chain of events began in late June when a video of a man kicking a dog near Hindu pilgrims spread online, igniting heated religious exchanges on social media.
During the exchanges, someone posted offensive remarks targeting a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded in Tamil with a comment that insulted Prophet Muhammad.
He subsequently deleted the post and recorded a video apology. Despite his efforts to retract the statement, a screenshot of the original comment was reportedly passed on to his employer and local police, resulting in his arrest in July.
Before the Supreme Court stepped in, a lower court had handed Sivarasa a five-year prison term and a fine of three million Saudi riyals, roughly equivalent to Sh103.9 million. The more severe death sentence came from a higher court ruling in September.
What Happens Next for Sivarasa
Despite the Supreme Court overturning the death sentence, Sivarasa's immediate future remains uncertain.
It is not yet clear whether the ruling will result in his release, a reduced custodial sentence or further legal proceedings. Sri Lankan officials indicated they were studying the judgment closely to determine his current legal standing.
Human rights organisations had campaigned actively against the execution. Human Rights Watch called on Saudi Arabia to end severe punishments handed down over social media activity, and raised broader concerns about the legal protections afforded to foreign workers operating within the kingdom.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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