Saudi Court Sets Aside Sri Lankan Worker’s Death Sentence

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa, according to Sri Lankan Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra. Hemachandra said the ruling was issued on October 13, following legal and diplomatic efforts by Sri Lanka. The decision was announced publicly on October 14. The ruling removes the death penalty, but the available information does not establish whether Sivarasa has been released, whether his conviction has been overturned, or what sentence he may still face. A report citing diplomatic sources said it had not been confirmed whether he would serve an earlier five-year prison sentence. Sivarasa’s case arose from a Facebook exchange about religion. Reports say he posted a comment about Prophet Muhammad during an online argument that followed the circulation of a video involving a dog near Hindu pilgrims in Sri Lanka. He later deleted the comment and posted an apology video. Screenshots were reportedly shared with his employer and Saudi authorities, and he was arrested in July. The AlAhsa Criminal Court initially sentenced Sivarasa to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals.