The case began in July when a screenshot of Sivarasa’s Tamil‑language Facebook post, which insulted Prophet Muhammad, was forwarded to his Saudi employer and then to the authorities. Sivarasa, who had fled a video‑induced row over a Muslim man kicking a dog during a Hindu pilgrimage, deleted the comment later that day but the evidence had already been seized.
The Al‑Ahsa Criminal Court first handed down a five‑year custodial sentence and a 3 million‑riyal fine—roughly $800,000—before prosecutors appealed for a Sharia‑law assessment. On September 17 the court overturned the prison term, imposing the death penalty.
The Sivarasa family has been frantic, sending letters to the Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh and receiving only vague assurances that officials were "looking into" the matter. His brother, Hamsidan, told the BBC in Sinhala that no updates had come since September 28.
A four‑person Sri Lankan legal delegation, led by President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, is traveling to Saudi Arabia this week to negotiate with the two Saudi law firms handling the case. The team plans to discuss the feasibility of a stay‑execution order and possible diplomatic pressure.
Religious leaders from Sri Lanka’s Buddhist and Hindu communities have joined the appeal, filing a memorandum with the Presidential Secretariat urging swift action. They argue that the sentence contravenes international labor and human‑rights obligations.
The execution date remains unannounced, but the court’s latest ruling means that if no further appeals succeed, the death sentence could be carried out within weeks, prompting a last‑minute diplomatic intervention from the Sri Lankan government.