Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan Hindu migrant worker, over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The decision follows sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Sri Lankan government to secure relief for him, as reported in India Today.
Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism confirmed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday (October 14), stating that the Saudi Supreme Court had set aside the death sentence on October 13, according to the Sri Lankan news outlet Newswire.
However, it remains unclear whether Sivarasa will still have to serve the original five-year prison sentence imposed on him or whether his entire conviction has been overturned.
How A Facebook Comment Led To A Death Sentence
Sivarasa’s ordeal began following an incident during a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka in late June. A video showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog that was following Hindu pilgrims circulated on social media, triggering heated exchanges between users.
During the online argument, a user allegedly posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded in Tamil with a comment about Prophet Muhammad. He subsequently deleted the comment and posted an apology video.
However, screenshots of the comment continued to circulate. According to reports, Sivarasa’s brother, Hamsidan, told the BBC that individuals in Sri Lanka had emailed his employer in Saudi Arabia, bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities. Sivarasa’s electronic devices were seized, and his social media accounts were deleted, according to reports.
On July 15, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced Sivarasa to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately US$800,000, over the Facebook comment.
The sentence was subsequently overturned by the Saudi Court of Appeal on September 17, which instead imposed the death penalty for blasphemy under Sharia law.
Sri Lanka Launches Diplomatic And Legal Efforts
The reversal of Sivarasa’s death sentence follows sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by Colombo, involving Sri Lankan political leaders, religious figures, diplomats and legal representatives.
According to the UK-based Tamil Guardian, six Tamil and Muslim Members of Parliament — Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, V Radhakrishnan, Jeevan Thondaman, Selvam Adaikalanathan and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam — wrote to the Saudi foreign minister on September 24, seeking mercy for Sivarasa.
Senior Buddhist leaders, including the Mahanayake Theros of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya, as well as Hindu religious leaders, also submitted memoranda to the Sri Lankan president urging immediate intervention, the Tamil Guardian reported.
The Independent reported that Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad, visited Sivarasa at Dammam Central Prison on October 8 to enquire about his well-being. The prison is located approximately 400 kilometres east of Riyadh. The visit reportedly followed an assault on Sivarasa by his cellmate the previous week.
Following the Saudi Court of Appeal’s September 17 ruling, the Sri Lankan government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the foreign minister, initiated diplomatic and legal efforts to challenge the death sentence.
The Independent reported that the government had assured Sivarasa’s family that it would spare no effort to secure a pardon after President Dissanayake met them on September 21. The government also offered to cover his legal expenses.
Legal Delegation Pursues Appeal Before Saudi Supreme Court
According to Newswire, an appeal was filed before the Saudi Supreme Court on October 11. The court set aside the death sentence on October 13.
A special legal delegation comprising Additional Solicitor General Azad Navavi, President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and attorney Hafeel Farisz travelled to Riyadh to pursue the appeal, Newswire reported.
Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Amir Ajwad, also engaged extensively with Saudi authorities, working alongside the legal team and embassy officials.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant reprieve for Sivarasa, who faced execution over a social media comment. However, the legal proceedings may not yet be over.
Diplomatic sources told Newswire that it had not been confirmed whether Sivarasa would still be required to serve the original five-year prison sentence imposed under Saudi Arabia’s anti-cybercrime law or whether his entire conviction had been overturned.
For now, the death sentence has been set aside, but Sivarasa’s eventual release and the final outcome of his case remain uncertain.
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