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A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over allegedly derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) posted on Facebook, according to the BBC.
The man, identified as Anojhan Sivarasa, was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined 3 million Saudi riyals by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court. His appeal against the sentence was rejected, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said.
The case took a dramatic turn on September 17 when Saudi prosecutors appealed for Anojhan to be tried under Sharia law rather than cybercrime legislation. An appeals court accepted the request and increased his sentence to death.
Anojhan’s family has reportedly been unable to contact him for more than a week and has appealed to Saudi authorities to pardon him. His mother, Rasamanikkam Yogalakshmi, made an emotional plea for her son to be forgiven and allowed to return to Sri Lanka.
The case has prompted concern in Sri Lanka, with political parties, government agencies and religious organizations calling for diplomatic efforts to secure a commutation of the sentence.
The controversy reportedly began in June following a religious dispute on social media in Sri Lanka. After an individual allegedly made derogatory comments about a Hindu deity, Anojhan responded in Tamil with comments deemed offensive toward the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He later deleted the comments and posted an apology video. However, screenshots of the original post continued to circulate and were eventually brought to the attention of his employer and Saudi authorities.
Anojhan was arrested in July. His personal electronic devices were confiscated, and his social media accounts were subsequently deleted by Saudi authorities, according to the BBC.
His brother, Hamsidhan Sivarasa, said the matter came to the attention of Saudi authorities after individuals in Sri Lanka contacted Anojhan’s employer by email. The company then informed the Saudi authorities.
Saudi authorities have not announced a date for the execution.
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry said it is taking all possible measures to assist Anojhan. His family met President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on September 21, and the president reportedly assured them that the government would make every effort to seek a pardon. Source:BBC.
