Saudi Court Overturns Death Sentence for Sri Lankan Worker in Blasphemy Case
AM730 · 2 SOURCESabout 5 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A Sri Lankan foreign worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad on social media has received a reprieve after diplomatic intervention from Colombo. The 27-year-old man, identified as Anojan Sivarasa, was working in the Gulf kingdom when he became embroiled in an online religious controversy in June. His case has drawn attention to the treatment of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and the serious consequences of perceived religious offenses under the kingdom's laws.
Key Points
- The incident began on June 28 when a Sri Lankan Muslim man kicked a stray dog revered by Hindu pilgrims during a religious procession, sparking online Hindu-Muslim hostilities
- Anojan Sivarasa, working in Saudi Arabia, posted a response in Tamil on Facebook defending Hindu deities, which prosecutors said insulted the Prophet Muhammad
- He deleted the post in July and filmed an apology video, but his employer and Saudi officials had already taken notice, leading to his arrest that same month
- A Saudi court initially sentenced him to five years imprisonment plus a 300 million Saudi riyals (HK$6.28 million) fine, before prosecutors appealed seeking harsher punishment under Sharia law
- The appeals court upgraded the sentence to death in September, but on October 14, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturned the ruling following Sri Lanka's diplomatic efforts
Why It Matters
The case highlights the precarious legal situation facing millions of migrant workers in Gulf states, where local laws can impose severe penalties for actions that might not constitute crimes elsewhere. Sri Lanka's successful diplomatic intervention demonstrates the importance of government-to-government negotiations in protecting citizens abroad, particularly in cases involving potential capital punishment. The outcome also raises questions about the ongoing legal process, as Sivarasa's family has reportedly had no direct contact with him since September 28, and his ultimate legal status remains unclear despite the death sentence being overturned .
The case highlights the precarious legal situation facing millions of migrant workers in Gulf states, where local laws can impose severe penalties for actions that might not constitute crimes elsewhere. Sri Lanka's successful diplomatic intervention demonstrates the importance of government-to-government negotiations in protecting citizens abroad, particularly in cases involving potential capital punishment. The outcome also raises questions about the ongoing legal process, as Sivarasa's family has reportedly had no direct contact with him since September 28, and his ultimate legal status remains unclear despite the death sentence being overturned .