Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence imposed on a 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker convicted of blasphemy over a comment he posted on Facebook, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra has announced.
Anojan Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September by a Saudi appellate court over remarks deemed insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, prompting widespread concern in Sri Lanka and diplomatic efforts to secure his release. Hemachandra confirmed the latest development in a Facebook post on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to Saudi authorities and the legal teams from both countries involved in the case.
The controversy began in late June after a video showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog following Hindu pilgrims circulated on social media, sparking heated exchanges between users from different religious communities.
During the online debate, one user allegedly posted derogatory comments about a Hindu deity, prompting Sivarasa to respond in Tamil with remarks insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Sivarasa reportedly deleted the comment shortly afterwards and published a video apologising for his words. However, a screenshot of the post was shared with his employer and Saudi authorities, leading to his arrest in July.
Before the death sentence was imposed, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court had sentenced him to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately $800,000, according to the report.
Sri Lankan lawmaker Faizer Mustafa, who has been involved in legal discussions with Saudi Arabia over the case, also confirmed to BBC Sinhala that the death sentence had been overturned. He said officials were examining the Supreme Court’s latest decision to determine its implications.
It remains unclear whether Sivarasa will face further legal proceedings, whether he will continue to be held in custody, or how long any detention might last.
His family had previously reported that they had been unable to communicate directly with him since September 28.
The case also attracted international criticism, with human rights organisations urging Saudi Arabia to spare his life.
On Tuesday, Joey Shea, a senior Saudi Arabia researcher at Human Rights Watch, called on the kingdom to stop imposing severe penalties for speech-related offences, particularly against migrant workers who may have limited access to protection.
