A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after being accused of making insulting comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad on Facebook.
Sivarasa, who has been working in Saudi Arabia since 2025, was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and fined 3 million Saudi riyals over the social media post.
However, the case took a dramaic turn after Saudi prosecutors appealed the ruling and argued that the offence should be prosecuted under Sharia law. An appellate court subsequently increased the punishment to death on September 17, 2026.
The case reportedly began during an online religious dispute in Sri Lanka. Sivarasa posted a comment in Tamil that Saudi authorities considered insulting to Prophet Muhammad. He later deleted the comment and issued an apology, but screenshots of the post were reportedly shared with his employer and Saudi authorities.
He was arrested in July, with his electronic devices confiscated and his social media accounts reportedly deactivated.
The death sentence has sparked concern in Sri Lanka, with the government beginning diplomatic and legal efforts to secure his release or a pardon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has also engaged with Sivarasa’s family, while religious leaders and other groups have called for clemency.
Sivarasa’s family reportedly last had contact with him on September 28. Saudi authorities have not announced an execution date.
A Sri Lankan legal delegation is also travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet lawyers handling the case and explore further legal options.
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