Saudi court sentences Sri Lankan worker to death for Facebook comment after Sharia appeal
An appellate court in Saudi Arabia sentenced 24-year-old Sri Lankan worker Anojan Sivarasa to death for blasphemy after prosecutors appealed a five-year prison term, prompting diplomatic intervention from Colombo.
Origin of the online dispute
Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old migrant worker from Sri Lanka, moved to Saudi Arabia for employment before becoming involved in an online dispute. In late June, video footage showing a young Muslim kicking a stray dog following Hindu pilgrims in Sri Lanka circulated widely across social media platforms. The recording triggered religious arguments among Sri Lankan users. When another participant posted derogatory remarks regarding the Hindu deity Shiva, Sivarasa replied in Tamil with comments insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Although he quickly deleted the message and published a video apologizing for his remarks, other users took screenshots and translated his statements.
Reporting, detention and trial
The dispute escalated beyond social media when Sri Lankan internet users sent the saved screenshots directly to Sivarasa's employer in Saudi Arabia. His brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, explained how the complaint reached local authorities.
People in Saudi Arabia knew nothing about this matter. It was individuals in Sri Lanka who sent emails to the company where my brother worked. I do not even wish to mention who those people are.
The company reported the matter to Saudi law enforcement, resulting in Sivarasa's arrest in July. Saudi police confiscated his smartphone and personal computer before deleting his social media accounts. The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially convicted Sivarasa under cybercrime legislation, sentencing him to five years in prison alongside a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals (approximately $800,000).
Appellate court escalation to capital punishment
The legal situation changed on 17 September when the prosecution appealed the five-year sentence, arguing that penalties under cybercrime statutes were insufficient. Prosecutors demanded that Sivarasa face judgment under Sharia law rather than state cybercrime legislation. The appellate court accepted the prosecution's request, set aside the prison term, and sentenced the 24-year-old worker to death for blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
- Online dispute begins after video of a dog kicked during a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka is shared.
- Sivarasa is arrested in Saudi Arabia after deleted social media comments are reported to his employer.
- Saudi appellate court overturns five-year prison term and imposes the death penalty under Sharia law.
- Sivarasa's family meets Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to request diplomatic intervention.
- Family in Sri Lanka receives their last update on Sivarasa's detention and condition.
Diplomatic mobilization and family appeal
The death sentence prompted widespread concern across Sri Lanka, leading to civil society petitions and calls from Buddhist and Hindu religious leaders for state intervention. On 21 September, Sivarasa's family met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Colombo, where the head of state committed to using all diplomatic channels to seek clemency from Saudi authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs dispatched a four-member legal delegation to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with defense lawyers. Sivarasa's mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, issued an appeal for her eldest son.
I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us.
Communication with Sivarasa ceased on 28 September, leaving his family without further updates regarding his condition or location. Saudi authorities have not announced a formal execution timeline, and previous executions in the kingdom have occurred without prior notification to foreign embassies or families. The Sri Lankan government instructed the family to avoid further public appearances while bilateral discussions remain ongoing.
