A Hindu Pilgrimage, a Video and 'Blasphemy': Why Sri Lankan Man Is Facing Death Penalty in Saudi
Anojan Sivarasa’s sentence was increased after prosecutors sought Sharia prosecution, and Sri Lankan officials and religious leaders are seeking clemency.
- Saudi Arabia's appellate court sentenced 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa to death after finding him guilty of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over a Facebook post.
- The legal crisis began after a religious dispute in Sri Lanka escalated on social media; despite Anojan promptly deleting his response and apologizing, his employer reported the comment to Saudi officials in July.
- A four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation is traveling to Saudi Arabia this week to meet defense lawyers, while Buddhist and Hindu leaders submitted a memorandum to the Presidential Secretariat calling for urgent state intervention.
- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has directed diplomatic channels to seek a general pardon for Anojan; however, the family has received no updates since September 28 and been instructed to avoid public statements.
- Rights groups including Amnesty International have criticized severe penalties for online speech in Saudi Arabia, where more than 10 million foreign workers face distinct vulnerabilities due to language barriers and limited legal representation.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Sri Lankan government tries to prevent the execution of Anoján Sivarasa, a 24-year-old migrant worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy against Islam and the prophet Muhammad. The case began with a comment posted by the young man on Facebook during a religious discussion on social networks. Living around the world: Want to live outside? Guide gathers information about 36 countries, such as visas, wages, cost of living and security…
The case caused shock in Sri Lanka, where petitions from civil society organisations have been launched across the country.
Aftenposten
A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after a Facebook comment that was deemed blasphemous against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, the BBC reports.
The young man from Sri Lanka had deleted the comment and uploaded a video apologizing, but a screenshot had already been sent to the authorities and his employer...
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