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Posted by Adelola Malik
- Oct 08, 2026, 07:29 AMA 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court reportedly found him guilty of blasphemy against Islam and Prophet Muhammad over a comment he made on Facebook.
Anojan was arrested in July following an online religious dispute that reportedly began after an incident involving Hindu pilgrims in Sri Lanka. During the exchange, another user allegedly made derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, prompting Anojan to respond in Tamil with an insulting comment about Prophet Muhammad. He later deleted the comment and posted an apology video, but screenshots of the post were reportedly sent to his employer and Saudi authorities.
According to his brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, people in Saudi Arabia were initially unaware of the incident. He said individuals in Sri Lanka reportedly sent emails containing the Facebook post to the company where Anojan worked, after which the company notified Saudi authorities and a case was opened against him.
Anojian was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined 3 million Saudi riyals. However, on September 17, Saudi prosecutors appealed the decision and sought to have the case prosecuted under Sharia law rather than the country's cybercrime legislation. The appellate court reportedly granted the request and increased the punishment to the death penalty.
Anojian's mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, has made an emotional appeal for mercy and the release of her son. "I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us," she said.
The Sri Lankan government has reportedly launched diplomatic efforts to secure a pardon for Anojan. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also assured the family that the government will make every possible effort to secure his release.
The family reportedly has not communicated with Anojan since September 28. A four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation is travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet his local defence lawyers and discuss possible legal and diplomatic measures to save his life.
Source:
Anojan was arrested in July following an online religious dispute that reportedly began after an incident involving Hindu pilgrims in Sri Lanka. During the exchange, another user allegedly made derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, prompting Anojan to respond in Tamil with an insulting comment about Prophet Muhammad. He later deleted the comment and posted an apology video, but screenshots of the post were reportedly sent to his employer and Saudi authorities.
According to his brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, people in Saudi Arabia were initially unaware of the incident. He said individuals in Sri Lanka reportedly sent emails containing the Facebook post to the company where Anojan worked, after which the company notified Saudi authorities and a case was opened against him.
Anojian was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined 3 million Saudi riyals. However, on September 17, Saudi prosecutors appealed the decision and sought to have the case prosecuted under Sharia law rather than the country's cybercrime legislation. The appellate court reportedly granted the request and increased the punishment to the death penalty.
Anojian's mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, has made an emotional appeal for mercy and the release of her son. "I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us," she said.
The Sri Lankan government has reportedly launched diplomatic efforts to secure a pardon for Anojan. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also assured the family that the government will make every possible effort to secure his release.
The family reportedly has not communicated with Anojan since September 28. A four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation is travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet his local defence lawyers and discuss possible legal and diplomatic measures to save his life.
Source: