A 27-year-old Sri Lankan worker has been spared execution in Saudi Arabia after the country’s Supreme Court overturned his death sentence over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Arun Hemachandra, confirmed that the court had cancelled the sentence against Anojan Sivarasa, thanking officials and legal teams from both countries for their efforts.
Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September after a court found him guilty of insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The ruling sparked concern in Sri Lanka, prompting government officials to seek clemency.
The case began in late June when a video circulated online showing a man kicking a dog near Hindu pilgrims, triggering heated religious debates on social media.
During the exchanges, someone posted offensive remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded in Tamil with a comment insulting Prophet Muhammad.
He later deleted the comment and posted a video apologising. However, a screenshot of the original post was reportedly shared with his employer and local police, leading to his arrest in July.
Before the death sentence was imposed, a lower court had sentenced Sivarasa to five years in prison and fined him three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately Sh103.9 million.
It remains unclear whether the Supreme Court’s decision will lead to his release, a reduced prison sentence or further court proceedings. Sri Lankan officials said they were examining the ruling to establish his legal status.
Human rights groups had also urged Saudi Arabia not to execute Sivarasa. Human Rights Watch called on the country to end harsh punishments for social media posts, raising concerns about the legal protections available to foreign workers.