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Saudi Supreme Court overturns death sentence for Sri Lankan worker
Reported by Kunal Bhatia (Senior Writer) · The Hindu - International ·
Reported by one source so far
Saudi Supreme Court on 13 October 2026 set aside the death penalty imposed on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa. The move follows sustained diplomatic and legal pressure from Sri Lanka, announced by Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemeachandra as a “major relief” for the 24‑year‑old engineer from Ampara district. Senior lawyer and President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, part of the Sri Lankan team in Riyadh, said the Supreme Court referred the case back to the lower court that originally tried it and a fresh sentence is expected within two weeks. Anojan’s Facebook comment in June, posted during a heated exchange over a video of a Muslim man attacking a dog named Subramani that had accompanied Hindu pilgrims to the Kataragama shrine, was deemed blasphemous for allegedly insulting Prophet Muhammad. He was first sentenced to five years in prison, then the Saudi Court of Appeal in the Eastern Region upgraded the punishment to death in September. The verdict triggered a nationwide campaign in Sri Lanka, with political parties, civil‑society groups and global watchdogs Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch urging Saudi authorities to overturn the sentence. Human Rights Watch noted Saudi Arabia has executed more than 2,000 people in the last decade and a record 356 in 2025. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met Anojan’s family in September at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. Sri Lanka also retains capital punishment but has not carried out an execution in five decades.
Context
The case highlights how diplomatic engagement can influence judicial outcomes in Saudi Arabia and reflects ongoing international debate over the use of the death penalty for blasphemy offences.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
Saudi Supreme Court removed the death sentence against Anojan Sivarasa and sent the case back to the lower court.
Why It Matters
The reversal shows that diplomatic pressure from Sri Lanka and advocacy by human‑rights groups can affect Saudi judicial decisions, especially in cases involving the death penalty for alleged blasphemy. It also brings attention to Saudi Arabia’s high execution rate and the broader debate over capital punishment.
What Happens Next
The lower court is expected to rehear the case within two weeks and deliver a new sentence, which could be a reduced prison term or another penalty. Both governments will watch the outcome closely, and any further appeal could again involve international observers.
