A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy related to a Facebook comment. The Sri Lankan government, religious leaders, and the worker's family are appealing to Saudi authorities for clemency and a general pardon.
The case originated from a July arrest following a social media dispute involving religious tensions in Sri Lanka. After footage of an incident during a Hindu pilgrimage circulated online in late June, Anojan reportedly posted a response in Tamil that insulted the Prophet Muhammad. Although he deleted the post and shared an apology video, the comment was screenshotted and reported to his employer and Saudi officials.
Initially, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced Anojan to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals (approximately $0.8 million). However, on September 17, 2026, an appellate court granted a prosecution request to try him under Sharia law instead of cybercrime legislation, which resulted in the death penalty. Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath stated that an earlier appeal to reduce the initial five-year sentence had been rejected.
The diplomatic and legal intervention involves multiple groups, including Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who met with the family on September 21, 2026. Additionally, senior Buddhist leaders from the Ramanna Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya, alongside Hindu leaders, have petitioned for state intervention.
A four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia this week to coordinate with two local law firms handling the defense. While diplomatic channels remain active, Saudi authorities have not published an official execution timeline. Historically, the Saudi government has carried out such sentences without prior notification to families or foreign embassies, often informing relatives only after the event has occurred. No specific deadline for a final ruling or execution has been reported.