Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has cancelled Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence, but Sri Lankan officials are still assessing his legal status.
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned a Saudi death sentence against a Sri Lankan worker over a Facebook comment. Anojan Sivarasa, 27, had faced execution after a court found his remarks insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Arun Hemachandra, confirmed the decision. He also thanked officials and legal teams from both countries for their efforts in the case.
However, the ruling does not yet establish whether Sivarasa will leave custody. Sri Lankan officials said they were examining the decision to clarify his legal position.
Saudi death sentence followed online dispute
The case began in late June after a video circulated showing a man kicking a dog near Hindu pilgrims. The footage triggered heated religious exchanges on social media.
During those exchanges, someone posted offensive remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa then responded in Tamil with a comment insulting Prophet Muhammad.
He later deleted his comment and posted a video apologising. However, someone reportedly shared a screenshot of the original remark with his employer and local police.
Police arrested Sivarasa in July. A court subsequently sentenced him to death in September after finding him guilty of insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Earlier ruling included prison term and fine
Before the death sentence, a lower court had handed Sivarasa a five-year prison term. It also imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately Sh103.9 million.
The September ruling raised concern in Sri Lanka, prompting government officials to seek clemency for the worker.
Although the Supreme Court has now cancelled the death sentence, the next legal step remains unclear. Possible outcomes include release, a reduced prison sentence or further court proceedings.
Rights groups urged Saudi Arabia to halt execution
Human rights organisations had also urged Saudi Arabia not to execute Sivarasa over the comment.
Human Rights Watch called for an end to harsh punishments for social media posts. The organisation also raised concerns about the legal protections available to foreign workers.
For now, Sri Lankan officials continue to assess what the Supreme Court’s decision means for Sivarasa.
