A young Tamil Hindu migrant worker from Sri Lanka has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment. The 24-year-old man, Anojan Sivarasa, was found guilty of blasphemy after he posted a comment on a derogatory post targeting Hindu deities and beliefs. Saudi courts considered his comment an insult to Islam and Prophet Muhammad. Sivarasa had deleted his comment and even apologised, but the Saudi authorities proceeded to prosecute him
Sivarasa hails from Natpiddimunai village in Kalmunai Municipal Council area in the Ampara District of the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. As per reports, he was initially granted a five-year sentence and a fine of three million Saudi Riyals by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court in July 2026. The conviction was made under Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law, and the court also ordered the confiscation of Sivarasa’s device and the closure of his social media account.
Both Sivarasa’s lawyers and the prosecution appealed against the original ruling. Sivarasa’s lawyers sought a reduced punishment, and the prosecution demanded an enhanced punishment under Sharia Law. The appellate court granted the prosecution’s appeal and enhanced his punishment to a death sentence on September 17, 2026. The court removed the fine of three million riyals but upheld the closure of his social media account and the confiscation of his device.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath informed the Sri Lankan Parliament about Sivarasa’s death sentence on September 22, 2026. “According to the written verdict received, the Court of Appeal, amending the decision of the Criminal Court, considered the relevant charge as an offence falling under Sharia law. Interpreting the act as an offence related to insulting and defaming the Prophet Muhammad, it imposed the death sentence,” Herath said in Parliament.
The Foreign Minister said that the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh has been monitoring the situation and has been providing consular assistance to Sivarasa. The Sri Lankan government is engaging with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels. The government is examining the court order against Sivarasa to explore legal options. His legal expenses will be covered by the government as he is a registered worker with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment.
The Sri Lankan government is also planning to seek mercy for Sivarasa from the Saudi royalty. A delegation of Sri Lankan officials is reportedly being prepared to reach Saudi Arabia with a letter from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeking clemency from the Saudi King.
What was the case?
Foreign Minister Herath said that the case emerged from a Facebook post in which derogatory remarks were made targeting Hindu deities and beliefs. Sivarasa, who went to Saudi Arabia in September 2025 for work, posted a comment on the post, which the Saudi authorities found insulting to Islam and Prophet Mohammad.
Sivarasa reportedly deleted the comment and posted a video apology on Facebook. However, a screenshot of his comment was shared with his employer and the Saudi authorities, which decided to prosecute him. He was arrested on July 2, 2026, and was convicted by the court later that month. On September 21, 2026, Sivarasa’s family met Saudi Diplomatic officials in Colombo seeking relief for him.
The verdict against Anojan Sivarasa comes six days after a Sri Lankan court convicted 15 Muslim men on terrorist charges for their involvement in the 2019 Easter bombings that left 267 people dead and 600 injured. Each of the terrorists, who were convicted of conspiring and aiding the bombings, has been sentenced to at least 220 years in prison. The Islamic State (IS) inspired terrorist attack targeting the minority Christian community and foreign tourists was carried out by nine suicide bombers, all of whom died in the attack.
Hindu organisation in India seeks mercy for Anojan Sivarasa
Hindu rights organisation Hindu Munnani submitted a petition at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam, seeking the withdrawal of Sivarasa’s death sentence. The organisation has also sought the intervention of the Indian government in the case.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: On death sentence to Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan in Saudi Arabia, Hindu Munnani State Spokesperson A.T. Elangovan says, "…We want to save his life, that is why we went and met the honourable person in the embassy. Then he said, 'We are also in the… pic.twitter.com/5aEnaQeoNq
— IANS (@ians_india) September 24, 2026
Hindu Munnani State Spokesperson A.T. Elangovan said that they want to save Sivarasa’s life. He said that officials at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission said that the Sri Lankan government is making all efforts to save Anojan Sivarasa.
