Man Sentenced to Death Over Facebook Comments
A Sri Lankan migrant worker has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia due to comments posted on Facebook. The man, identified as Anojan Sivarasa, was found guilty of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
The case of the 24-year-old Anojan has sparked widespread concern in Sri Lanka. The government, various political parties, and interfaith leaders are now mobilising to request a pardon from Saudi Arabia.
His family reported that they have had no news regarding Anojan’s condition since 28 September 2026. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have not yet announced when the execution will take place.
“I beg for mercy for the mistake my son has made. Please forgive him and send him back to us,” said Anojan’s mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, while weeping, as reported by BBC International on Wednesday (7/10/2026).
Origin of the Case
The case began with a dispute on social media regarding Hindu activities in Sri Lanka. In late June, a video circulated showing a Muslim youth kicking a dog that was following a group of Hindu pilgrims.
The video triggered religious debates. During the ensuing argument, a social media user wrote a comment insulting a Hindu deity. Anojan responded with a comment in Tamil that insulted the Prophet Muhammad.
Anojan promptly deleted the comment and uploaded a video of an apology. However, screenshots of the comment had already been widely circulated.
According to Anojan’s brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, several individuals in Sri Lanka sent emails regarding the post to the company where Anojan works in Saudi Arabia.
“People in Saudi Arabia knew nothing about this issue. It was people in Sri Lanka who sent emails to my brother’s workplace,” Hamsidan told BBC Sinhala.
The company subsequently reported Anojan’s case to the Saudi authorities. Anojan was arrested in July 2026. His personal devices were seized, and his social media accounts were deleted by Saudi authorities.
Five-Year Sentence Escalated to Death Penalty
Initially, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced Anojan to five years in prison. He was also fined 3 million Saudi riyals, approximately US$800,000 or around Rp14 billion.
An appeal filed to reduce the sentence was rejected, according to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. However, the case changed drastically on 17 September.
Saudi prosecutors appealed to have Anojan tried under Sharia law rather than the cybercrime laws previously used in the case. The appeals court granted the prosecutor’s request, and Anojan’s sentence was subsequently increased to death.
No official execution schedule has been announced by the Saudi government, meaning it remains unknown when the sentence will be carried out.
Saudi Arabia has previously carried out executions without prior notice to the families or the embassies of the convicts’ home countries. In several instances, families were only notified after the execution had been performed.
Sri Lankan President Intervenes
The Sri Lankan government is now attempting to save Anojan through diplomatic channels. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that various available steps have been taken to assist their citizen.
Anojan’s family also met with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on 21 September. Dissanayake assured the family that the government would make every effort to obtain clemency for Anojan.
He also instructed Sri Lankan diplomatic channels to communicate with the Saudi Arabian government. Support has also come from several religious leaders.
Senior Buddhist leaders from the Ramanna Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya, alongside several Hindu leaders, submitted a memorandum to the Presidential Secretariat, requesting the government’s immediate intervention in the case.
In addition to diplomatic routes, a four-person legal team from Sri Lanka is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with the local lawyers handling Anojan’s case.
“There are two law firms in Saudi Arabia handling Anojan’s case. We are going there to meet the lawyers from both firms, discuss the case, and plan the next steps,” said one team member, Upul Kumarapperuma.
Meanwhile, communication between Anojan and his family has been severed. “My brother has not called for two days,” said Hamsidan on 28 September.
“We have informed the embassy and requested officials to check on the matter and provide us with news. They said they would investigate. We are still waiting as we have not received a response,” he added.