Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court overturned the death sentence imposed on 27‑year‑old Anojan Sivarasa on 28 October 2024 after a lower court had sentenced him for blasphemy over a Facebook post.
Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan domestic worker in Riyadh, had deleted the post and issued an apology in July, but a complaint from a local imam triggered his arrest. The trial court sentenced him to five years in prison, but his appeal was denied and the appellate court upgraded the punishment to death.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Saudi authorities on X and promised to seek a review through the UN Human Rights Council. He also thanked Saudi diplomats, civil servants and legal teams for their efforts.
The decision follows a history of controversial executions of Sri Lankan expatriates in Saudi Arabia, including the 2013 beheading of Rizana Nafeek, a maid convicted of murder. Nafeek’s trial drew international criticism and diplomatic pressure.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to prompt a formal complaint from Sri Lanka to the UN Human Rights Council in November, where the case will be examined alongside similar diaspora cases.