Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence handed to Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan Hindu migrant worker convicted over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The decision follows sustained diplomatic and legal intervention by the Sri Lankan government seeking relief for its citizen.
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 Supreme Court overturned the death sentence on October 13, according to Sri Lankan news outlet Newswire.
Sivarasa’s ordeal began after an online controversy in Sri Lanka in late June, when a video showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog following Hindu pilgrims circulated on social media, triggering heated exchanges among users.
During the ensuing argument, a user allegedly posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded in Tamil with a comment about Prophet Muhammad that Saudi authorities subsequently deemed blasphemous. He deleted the comment shortly afterwards and also posted an apology video.
However, screenshots of the deleted comment continued to circulate. His brother, Hamsidan, told the BBC that individuals in Sri Lanka emailed Sivarasa’s employer in Saudi Arabia, bringing the matter to the attention of the authorities. His 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 $800,000, over the Facebook comment. The punishment was subsequently escalated to death by the Saudi Court of Appeal on September 17 under the country’s interpretation of Sharia law.
Colombo’s diplomatic and legal intervention secures relief
The reversal of the death sentence followed weeks of diplomatic engagement and legal efforts by Colombo to prevent Sivarasa’s execution.
According to the UK-based Tamil Guardian, six Tamil and Muslim MPs — Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, V. Radhakrishnan, Jeevan Thondaman, Selvam Adaikalanathan and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam — wrote to Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister on September 24, appealing for clemency.
The Sri Lankan government also moved to support Sivarasa and his family after the death sentence was imposed. According to The Independent, the government assured his family that it would make every effort to secure a pardon after they met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 21. Colombo also offered to cover his legal expenses.
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 visit came after reports that Sivarasa had been assaulted by his cellmate the previous week.
Meanwhile, a special legal delegation travelled to Riyadh to pursue the case. The team comprised Additional Solicitor General Azad Navavi, President’s Counsel Faizer Mustapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and attorney Hafeel Farisz. They worked alongside the Sri Lankan embassy and the ambassador to challenge the death sentence before the Saudi judicial authorities.
Newswire reported that an appeal was filed before the Saudi Supreme Court on October 11, following the Court of Appeal’s September 17 decision to replace the original prison sentence and fine with the death penalty. The Supreme Court subsequently set aside the death sentence on October 13.
What happens to Sivarasa now?
Although the Supreme Court’s decision has provided significant relief, Sivarasa’s legal ordeal may not be over.
Diplomatic sources told Newswire that it remains unclear whether he will still have to serve the original five-year prison sentence imposed under Saudi Arabia’s anti-cybercrime law or whether the entire conviction has been overturned.
The reversal of the death sentence marks a major development in a case that drew international attention and prompted sustained diplomatic intervention by Sri Lanka. The outcome will depend on what the Saudi authorities decide regarding the remaining conviction and punishment.
