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Sri Lankan Worker Faces Death Sentence in Saudi Arabia Over Facebook Post
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Firstpost•25-09-2026, 13:06
Sri Lankan Worker Faces Death Sentence in Saudi Arabia Over Facebook Post
- •Sivarasa Anojan, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, faces a death sentence in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court increased his punishment for a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
- •Initially sentenced to five years in prison and a three million Saudi Riyal fine by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court, the sentence was escalated to capital punishment after the Saudi prosecution appealed for a harsher penalty under Sharia law.
- •The case originated from a social media dispute following a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka, where Anojan posted a comment that Saudi authorities considered offensive, despite him later deleting and apologizing for it.
- •Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry is actively pursuing legal and diplomatic avenues, providing consular assistance, and preparing a delegation with a letter from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek clemency from the Saudi King.
- •The Sri Lankan government will cover Anojan's legal expenses and is exploring further appeal options while engaging in diplomatic discussions with Riyadh to prevent the death sentence from being carried out.
Key Questions Answered
Sivarasa Anojan faced a death sentence after an appellate court increased his punishment over a Facebook comment deemed insulting to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially sentenced him to five years in prison, a fine of three million Saudi Riyals, confiscation of his electronic device, and closure of his social media account under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law.
Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry is providing consular assistance, covering legal expenses, examining further legal avenues, and preparing a delegation to travel to Saudi Arabia with a presidential letter seeking clemency from the Saudi King.
