Saudi Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence for Sri Lankan National
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has reversed a death sentence previously handed down to a 24-year-old Sri Lankan worker convicted of blasphemy.
According to reports from Khaosod Online and the BBC, the Saudi Supreme Court overturned the death penalty for Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan national, on Wednesday, October 14. Sivarasa had been sentenced to death in September after an appeals court found him guilty of insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad through social media posts.
Initially, an Al-Ahsa criminal court had sentenced Sivarasa to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals. However, prosecutors later appealed to have the case tried under Sharia law rather than cybercrime statutes, which led to the initial death sentence. The reversal follows significant diplomatic efforts between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, as well as advocacy from international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch.
For residents and travelers in the region, this case highlights the strict enforcement of laws regarding religious expression and social media conduct in Saudi Arabia. While the death sentence has been vacated, it remains unclear whether Sivarasa will face further legal proceedings or how much longer he will remain in custody. Officials are currently reviewing the Supreme Court's latest ruling to determine the next steps in the case.
