Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Sri Lankan Worker Faces Death Sentence Over Saudi Facebook Post
Sivarasa Anojan is a 24-year-old worker from Sri Lanka who is being held in Saudi Arabia.
He wrote a Facebook comment that Saudi authorities said insulted Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
He deleted the comment and apologised, but it had already been saved and reported.
A court first sentenced him to five years in prison and a large fine.
After an appeal by Saudi prosecutors, a higher court reportedly changed the punishment to death.
Sri Lanka is trying to help him through lawyers and diplomatic talks.
The government says it will pay his legal costs and seek clemency.
His family and supporters are also asking for help to stop the sentence from being carried out.
A Saudi appellate court reportedly sentenced 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan to death over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court had initially imposed five years in prison, a SAR 3 million fine, device confiscation and social-media account closure.
Anojan reportedly deleted the comment and apologised, but authorities had already captured and reported it.
Sri Lanka says the death sentence was imposed on September 17 and that it received the written judgment on September 20.
Sri Lanka is pursuing legal and diplomatic options, including a clemency request to the Saudi King and government-funded legal assistance.
- Who
- Sivarasa Anojan, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker; Sri Lankan authorities are seeking to assist him.
- What
- A Saudi appellate court reportedly increased his punishment from imprisonment and a fine to a death sentence over a Facebook comment.
- When
- He was arrested on July 2, 2026; the reported death sentence was imposed on September 17, with the written judgment received on September 20.
- Where
- The case is in Saudi Arabia and involves the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court and an appellate court; Anojan is from Kalmunai, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Saudi authorities deemed his comment insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad after it was captured and reported.
Sri Lankan Government and Family
Saudi Prosecution and Courts
Punishment
Sri Lankan Government and Family
Sri Lanka is seeking further legal avenues, clemency and humanitarian intervention to prevent the death sentence from being carried out.
Saudi Prosecution and Courts
The Saudi prosecution appealed for a harsher punishment under Sharia law, and the appellate court imposed the death sentence.
Interpretation of the Facebook Comment
Sri Lankan Government and Family
Reports describe the comment as having followed derogatory Tamil-language remarks targeting Hindu beliefs and deities; Anojan later deleted it and apologised.
Saudi Prosecution and Courts
Saudi authorities considered the comment insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad and treated it as a criminal matter.
Legal Process
Sri Lankan Government and Family
Sri Lankan authorities are examining the written judgment and exploring additional appeals while providing legal assistance.
Saudi Prosecution and Courts
The initial court convicted Anojan under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law, while the prosecution separately appealed after his own appeal was rejected.
- Defendant
- Sivarasa Anojan, 24, from Natpiddimunai in Kalmunai, Sri Lanka
- Initial sentence
- Five years in prison and a fine of SAR 3 million
- Reported final sentence
- Death, imposed by an appellate court on September 17
- Legal basis
- The original conviction was reportedly made under Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cyber Crime Law
- Social-media action
- The comment was deleted and followed by an apology, while the device and social-media account were also subject to court orders
- Sri Lankan response
- Legal, diplomatic, consular and humanitarian options are being pursued
- Clemency effort
- A delegation is being prepared to deliver a letter from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to the Saudi King