Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence of Sri Lankan worker over facebook comment
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence imposed on a Sri Lankan migrant worker over a comment he posted on Facebook, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra has said.
Anojan Sivarasa, 27, was sentenced to death in September after a Saudi appellate court convicted him of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over the social media comment.
The case sparked widespread concern in Sri Lanka and prompted diplomatic efforts to secure clemency for Sivarasa.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Hemachandra announced that Saudi Arabia’s highest court had set aside the death sentence. He thanked the authorities and legal teams of both countries for their efforts in the case.
The incident began in late June when footage circulated widely on social media showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog after Hindu pilgrims had passed by. The video triggered religious disputes online.
During the ensuing exchange, a social media user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded in Tamil with insulting comments about the Prophet Muhammad.
Although he later deleted the comment and posted an apology video, a screenshot of the remark was reportedly brought to the attention of his employer and Saudi authorities. He was arrested in July.
It remains unclear whether further legal proceedings will take place or whether Sivarasa will continue to be held in detention. His detention status and the duration of any further custody have not been confirmed.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court had initially sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately $800,000.
Sri Lankan lawmaker Faizer Mustafa, who is involved in legal discussions with Saudi Arabia over the case, also confirmed to BBC Sinhala that the death sentence had been overturned. He said the latest Supreme Court ruling was being reviewed.
Sivarasa’s family had previously said they had not been in direct contact with him since September 28.
International human rights organisations had also urged Saudi Arabia to spare his life.
On Tuesday, Joey Shea, a senior Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, called on Saudi authorities to stop using what she described as abusive laws to impose severe punishments for speech-related offences, particularly against migrant workers with limited protections.