Migrant Worker Faces Death Sentence in Saudi Arabia Over Facebook Comment

A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker is facing execution in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court sentenced him to death over a Facebook comment deemed blasphemous, the BBC reports.

The man, identified as Anojan Sivarasa, was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals under the country’s cybercrime law.

However, his case took a dramatic turn on September 17 when prosecutors appealed the verdict and sought to have him tried under Sharia law. The appellate court subsequently increased his sentence to death.

Sivarasa was reportedly convicted over a comment he posted during an online religious argument in which he insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.

According to reports, the dispute began after another social media user allegedly posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Sivarasa responded with an offensive comment about the Prophet Muhammad, which he deleted within minutes and later apologised for in a video.

The comment was reportedly captured in a screenshot and sent to his employer and Saudi authorities, resulting in his arrest in July.

His family has reportedly not heard from him since September 28, while Saudi authorities have yet to announce a date for his execution.

The case has triggered calls for international intervention, with Humanists UK launching a petition urging the British Government to press Saudi authorities to overturn the death sentence.

Chief Executive of Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, called on the British Foreign Secretary to raise the case with Saudi authorities at the highest level.

“Everyone has the right to speak freely about religion, and no one should ever face punishment for doing so, much less be put to death,” Copson said.

He also urged the British Government to use its diplomatic influence to advocate the repeal of blasphemy laws in countries where they remain in force.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has been seeking a pardon for Sivarasa.

According to the BBC, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met with Sivarasa’s family in September and assured them that his administration would make every effort to secure his release.

The government has also dispatched a four-member legal delegation to Saudi Arabia to meet lawyers handling the case.

Religious leaders and civil society organisations in Sri Lanka have joined calls for government intervention, with Buddhist and Hindu leaders submitting a memorandum to the presidential secretariat.

Sivarasa’s brother, Hamsidan, told the BBC that the family contacted the Sri Lankan embassy after communication with Anojan stopped.

He said individuals in Sri Lanka had allegedly sent emails about the Facebook comment to the company where Sivarasa worked, leading to the authorities becoming involved.

Saudi Arabia has previously faced criticism from human rights organisations over severe punishments for online speech. Executions in cases involving blasphemy are considered relatively rare compared with capital offences such as drug-related crimes and murder.

The case has nevertheless renewed scrutiny of Saudi Arabia’s treatment of online expression and religious speech, particularly where social media activity is considered to violate the country’s laws.