Archive · 9 Oct 2026
Sri Lanka Seeks Pardon for Worker Sentenced to Death in Saudi Arabia
Anojan Sivarasa is a 24-year-old worker from Sri Lanka who is being held in Saudi Arabia.
He posted a comment on Facebook during an argument about religion.
Reports say he deleted the comment and later apologized in a video.
Saudi authorities arrested him after the comment was reported to his employer.
A court first gave him a prison sentence and a fine.
Later, an appellate court changed the punishment to death after prosecutors asked for the case to be considered under Sharia law.
Sri Lankan officials and lawyers are trying to find ways to appeal or obtain a pardon.
His family says it has not heard from him since September 28.
Saudi authorities have not said when the sentence might be carried out.
Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, was sentenced to death by a Saudi appellate court over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
The comment followed an online argument in Sri Lanka sparked by a video from a Hindu pilgrimage; Sivarasa later deleted it and posted an apology, according to reports.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially sentenced him to five years in prison and fined him three million Saudi riyals; prosecutors later sought a Sharia-law case, and the appellate court imposed the death sentence on September 17.
Sri Lankan officials are pursuing legal and diplomatic options, and a Sri Lankan delegation has travelled to meet Sivarasa’s local defence lawyers.
His family says it has had no communication from him since September 28; Saudi authorities have not announced an execution date.
- Who
- Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker; Sri Lankan officials and lawyers are seeking relief.
- What
- A Saudi appellate court sentenced Sivarasa to death over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
- When
- The appellate court imposed the sentence on September 17; the reports do not consistently specify the year.
- Where
- The case is in Saudi Arabia; the online dispute began in Sri Lanka.
- Why
- The case arose from a Facebook comment Sivarasa posted during an online religious dispute.
Saudi legal proceedings
Calls for clemency and relief
Death sentence
Saudi legal proceedings
The appellate court accepted prosecutors’ request to have the case considered under Sharia law and sentenced Sivarasa to death.
Calls for clemency and relief
Sivarasa’s family, Sri Lankan officials, civil society groups and religious leaders are seeking a pardon or other relief; Amnesty International has urged Saudi Arabia to overturn the sentence.
Appropriate response to the comment
Saudi legal proceedings
The court convicted Sivarasa over a comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Calls for clemency and relief
Advocates argue that the death penalty is disproportionate for an online comment and call for his release or clemency.
- Initial sentence
- Five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals, imposed by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court.
- Death sentence
- An appellate court imposed it on September 17 after prosecutors sought to have the case considered under Sharia law.
- Underlying dispute
- An online argument followed a video from a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka.
- Comment and apology
- Reports say Sivarasa posted a comment in Tamil, later deleted it, and posted an apology video.
- Family contact
- His family says it has received no communication from him since September 28.
- Sri Lankan response
- Officials are pursuing diplomatic and legal options; a delegation travelled to meet his local defence lawyers.
- Execution date
- Saudi authorities have not announced one.
Sources
Sri Lankan migrant worker on death row and a familiar pattern
Saudi Arabia urged to spare man sentenced to death over FB post
Facebook comment to death penalty: How Sri Lankan engineer’s case unfolded in Saudi Arabia
Sri Lankan in Saudi Arabia sentenced to death over blasphemy. Colombo delegation arrives
Sri Lankan Tamil worker gets death sentence in Saudi Arabia over blasphemy, calls for pardon intensify
Sri Lanka Seeks Clemency For 24-year-old Anojan Sivarasa Sentenced To Death In Saudi Arabia
24-year-old Sri Lankan man sentenced to death for blasphemy in Saudi Arabia
