Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for Sri Lankan migrant over Facebook post

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of Anojan Sivarasa, a 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, after he was convicted for a Facebook comment deemed blasphemous against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad ^[1]. The ruling comes after months of diplomatic pressure and global appeals from human rights groups.

Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals ($0.8 million; £0.6 million) by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court in September ^[1]. The case erupted after a June social media video of a Muslim man kicking a dog during a Hindu pilgrimage sparked religious tensions online. In the ensuing online exchange, Sivarasa posted a derogatory remark about a Hindu deity in Tamil, which prompted a response in which he insulted the Prophet Muhammad.

He deleted the comment and later posted an apology video, but a screenshot had already been shared with his employer and Saudi authorities, leading to his arrest in July ^[1]. His family has reported no direct contact since 28 September.

Colombo's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra confirmed the Supreme Court’s decision on Facebook, thanking both Saudi and Sri Lankan legal teams for their efforts ^[1]. Faizer Mustafa, a Sri Lankan lawmaker involved in negotiations, confirmed the reversal and said Saudi authorities are reviewing the latest ruling.

International rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, condemned the use of harsh laws to punish speech, particularly against vulnerable migrant workers ^[1]. Joey Shea, senior Saudi Arabia researcher at HRW, said the case highlighted the need to end abusive laws targeting expression.

According to ^[1], it has not been confirmed whether Sivarasa will face further legal proceedings or how long he will remain in detention. The case has drawn attention to the precarious legal status of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, where laws on religious blasphemy are strictly enforced. The story was first reported by BBC News.