Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for man over Facebook comment, Sri Lanka says
The ruling followed sustained diplomatic pressure from Sri Lanka and human rights groups after Sivarasa was convicted over a Facebook comment.
- On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia set aside the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed.
- Sivarasa faced an initial five-year prison sentence and three million Saudi riyals fine before an appellate court imposed a death sentence in September for "verbally insulting and offending Prophet Muhammad."
- The Government of Sri Lanka sent a four-member legal team to Riyadh for a clemency appeal, with Hemachandra terming the development "a major relief" for the 24-year-old engineer.
- Although the death penalty is set aside, the case has been referred back to the lower court for further proceedings, where a fresh sentence is expected within two weeks.
- Human Rights Watch reported that Saudi authorities executed at least 356 people in 2025, noting more than 2,000 executions over the last decade, "in many cases violating Saudi and international law.
37 Articles
37 Articles
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has overturned the death sentence of a Sri Lankan worker convicted of blasphemy in a Facebook comment.
Saudi overturns Tamil man’s death sentence over Prophet remarks
Colombo: Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan Tamil migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan over a Facebook comment concerning Prophet Muhammad, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said on Wednesday, October 14. In a post on Facebook, Hemachandra said the ruling was issued on Tuesday, October 13, following … Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Po…
Saudi Arabia Sets Aside Death Sentence Of Sri Lankan Hindu Migrant Worker Anojan Sivarasa Over Alleged Blasphemy
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. […]
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