Man sentenced to death over facebook comment Saudi Arabia

A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker faces execution in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court sentenced him to death over a Facebook comment deemed blasphemous.

Anojan Sivarasa received the death sentence on September 17. Saudi prosecutors had appealed his earlier five-year prison term and three million Saudi riyal fine under the country’s cybercrime law.

Sivarasa reportedly made the comment during an online religious argument. Another social media user had posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity.

He responded with an insulting remark about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. He later deleted the comment within minutes and apologised in a video.

However, someone reportedly took a screenshot of the post. The person then sent it to Sivarasa’s employer and Saudi authorities.

The development led to Sivarasa’s arrest in July.

His family has not heard from him since September 28. Saudi authorities have also not announced a date for his execution.

Humanists UK has called on the British Government to intervene urgently in the case.

The organisation launched a petition on Wednesday. It is urging the government to pressure Saudi Arabia to overturn the death sentence.

Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson said the British Foreign Secretary should raise Sivarasa’s case with Saudi authorities at the highest level.

Copson also urged the UK Government to use its influence. He wants countries that still enforce blasphemy laws to repeal them.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government is seeking a pardon for Sivarasa.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake reportedly met Sivarasa’s family in September. He assured them of government efforts to secure his release.

The government has also sent a four-member legal delegation to Saudi Arabia. The delegation is expected to meet lawyers handling the case.

Religious leaders and civil society groups in Sri Lanka have joined calls for intervention. Buddhist and Hindu leaders have submitted a memorandum to the presidential secretariat.

Sivarasa’s brother, Hamsidan, previously said the family contacted the Sri Lankan embassy. The move followed the loss of communication with Anojan.

He also claimed that people in Sri Lanka alerted Sivarasa’s employer about the social media post. He said the alert did not come from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has faced criticism from human rights groups over severe punishments for online speech. However, executions for blasphemy remain relatively uncommon.