Sri Lankan politicians and the family of a migrant worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia are appealing for his pardon following his conviction over a social media post considered insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
Anojan Sivarasa, from Kalmunai in Sri Lanka’s eastern Batticaloa district, was sentenced to death by a Saudi Arabian appellate court on September 17, according to reports cited by UCA News.
The case relates to comments Sivarasa allegedly posted on Facebook that were considered insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
A lower court had previously sentenced him to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals, equivalent to about US$800,785. His family appealed the sentence in August, seeking a reduction.
The appellate court subsequently overturned the earlier sentence and imposed the death penalty, according to reports.
Sivarasa’s family travelled more than 300 kilometres to Colombo on September 21 to seek help from Sri Lankan authorities and Saudi diplomatic officials.
They also met Sri Lankan opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, who publicly appealed to Saudi Arabia’s King to consider granting Sivarasa a pardon.
“I cordially urge the King of Saudi Arabia, with respect, to consider a common pardon for him, considering the plight of his family,” Premadasa told reporters.
He also said he would contact Saudi diplomatic representatives in Sri Lanka and senior officials at the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an effort to help secure Sivarasa’s release.
Political groups from different communities in Sri Lanka have joined calls for clemency.
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, All Ceylon Makkal Congress and Sri Lanka Democratic Party have launched or supported appeals for a pardon on humanitarian grounds.
Sri Lanka Democratic Party General Secretary Anwar M. Musthapa called on Saudi authorities to take into account Sivarasa’s reported apology and consider reconciliation and compassion when reviewing the case.
Sivarasa’s parents have also appealed directly for their son’s life to be spared.
His father, Thambirasa Sivarasa, said his son did not intend to commit an offence and that the incident began during an argument with a friend on Facebook.
According to the family, Sivarasa later removed the comment and apologised.
They said a screenshot of the post was subsequently translated into Arabic and sent to his employer and Saudi authorities, after which he was arrested.
His mother, Rasamanickam Yogaladchumi, said Sivarasa was the main provider for the family and pleaded with the Saudi authorities to release him.
The family has also said it spent more than 1.89 million Sri Lankan rupees, approximately US$5,700, on legal fees connected to the case.
The family is now asking the Sri Lankan government to arrange experienced independent legal representation and make diplomatic representations at the highest level in Saudi Arabia.
Sri Lankan parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, who represents Batticaloa district, said he plans to raise the case in Parliament.
He also expressed concerns about the handling of the case by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry and questioned whether sufficient consular support had been provided during the appeal process.
The case has attracted attention across Sri Lanka because of the severity of the sentence and the circumstances surrounding a migrant worker who was living and working in Saudi Arabia.
For now, Sivarasa remains under a death sentence following the appellate court’s decision. His family and supporters are seeking diplomatic intervention and a pardon from the Saudi authorities.