A Sri Lankan migrant worker in Saudi Arabia has been sentenced to death for blasphemy after posting a comment on Facebook.
According to a report by the BBC on October 5, the individual involved is 24-year-old Anojan Shivarasa, who has been out of contact with his family since September 28.
The incident began in late June when a video surfaced on social media showing a Muslim man kicking a dog that was following a group of Hindu pilgrims in Sri Lanka. As the video sparked controversy, one user mocked a Hindu deity, prompting Anojan to respond with a derogatory comment about Muhammad.
Afterward, Anojan deleted his comment and posted an apology video, but the original comment was captured and sent to Saudi authorities. He was arrested in July, and his personal devices were confiscated, along with the deletion of his social media accounts.
The Saudi Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially sentenced Anojan to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million riyals (approximately $800,000). However, on September 17, the Saudi prosecution appealed, arguing that Sharia law should apply instead of cybercrime laws. The appellate court accepted this argument and subsequently sentenced Anojan to death.
In response, the Sri Lankan government has taken action. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Anojan's family on September 21 and instructed diplomatic channels to be activated to seek a pardon. Religious leaders from Buddhism and Hinduism have also submitted petitions advocating for his release. A team of four Sri Lankan lawyers is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia this week to meet with local legal representatives.
Saudi authorities have not yet disclosed a timeline for the execution. However, the BBC noted that there have been instances where Saudi Arabia executed individuals without prior notification to their families or foreign embassies.
While it is rare for a foreigner to receive a death sentence for blasphemy in Saudi Arabia, human rights organizations have expressed concern over the increasing penalties for online expression by the Saudi government.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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