Breaking: Saudi Supreme Court Sets Aside Death Penalty
Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence handed to Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker convicted of blasphemy over a Facebook comment, Sri Lankan officials confirmed on Wednesday. The case had sparked international outrage and intense diplomatic efforts to seek clemency.
The Supreme Court's decision, announced by Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra, sets aside the September appellate ruling that had elevated Sivarasa's initial five-year prison sentence to capital punishment. According to President's Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, who was part of a Sri Lankan legal team sent to Riyadh, the case has been referred back to the lower court that originally heard it. A fresh sentence is expected within two weeks. It remains unclear whether Sivarasa will remain in detention during that period.
"This is a major relief," Hemachandra said in a Facebook post, thanking authorities and legal teams from both nations. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake also welcomed the development, stating it "brings immense relief to Anojan, his family, and all Sri Lankans who have followed his case with deep concern." He added, "No Sri Lankan who leaves our shores in search of a livelihood should ever feel that they stand alone."
Context: From Facebook Comment to Death Row
Sivarasa's ordeal began in late June 2026, when a viral video of a Muslim man kicking a dog accompanying Hindu pilgrims ignited religious tensions online. During a heated exchange, another user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, prompting Sivarasa to respond in Tamil with an insult directed at the Prophet Muhammad. He deleted the comment and posted an apology video, but a screenshot had already been shared with his employer and Saudi authorities.
He was arrested on July 1. On July 27, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals (approximately $800,000). Less than two months later, on September 17, an appellate court granted prosecutors' request to try him under Sharia law rather than cybercrime legislation, escalating the sentence to death. Amnesty International reported that Sivarasa was denied access to a lawyer from arrest until his initial sentencing.
The case drew widespread condemnation from human rights organizations. "Sentencing a man to death over a social media post is a chilling illustration of the Saudi authorities' willingness to impose this cruel and irreversible punishment," said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. "No one should be imprisoned, let alone face execution simply for expressing their views, even if these are deemed insulting or offensive."
Diplomatic and Legal Efforts Behind the Overturn
The reversal follows sustained diplomatic and legal pressure from Sri Lanka. President Dissanayake met with Sivarasa's family in September at the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo. A legal team led by Kumarapperuma traveled to Riyadh to negotiate with Saudi authorities, while Sri Lankan lawmakers, including Faizer Mustafa, engaged in behind-the-scenes talks.
Sivarasa's family had received no updates on his condition since September 28, according to his brother Hamsidan, who told the BBC that individuals in Sri Lanka had emailed his brother's Saudi employer, which then notified Saudi authorities. "People in Saudi Arabia knew nothing about this matter," he said. "It was individuals in Sri Lanka who sent emails to the company where my brother worked."
Saudi officials seized Sivarasa's devices and deleted his social media accounts, according to reports. The case underscored the risks faced by migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, where blasphemy laws can carry the death penalty. As of October 5, Saudi Arabia had executed at least 175 people in 2026, with foreign nationals comprising a majority, according to Amnesty International.
What This Means for Migrant Workers and Free Speech
The overturning of Sivarasa's death sentence is a significant reprieve, but it does not guarantee his release. The case now returns to the lower court, where a new sentence—potentially still severe—will be determined. His detention status remains uncertain.
The case has highlighted the extreme consequences of online speech in countries with strict blasphemy laws, particularly for vulnerable migrant workers who lack legal protections. It also illustrates the power of sustained diplomatic engagement and international advocacy. Sri Lanka's government has framed the outcome as a victory for patient diplomacy and respect for legal processes.
However, human rights groups continue to call for Sivarasa's immediate and unconditional release, arguing that his prosecution violates international law protecting freedom of expression. "His execution would amount to arbitrary deprivation of life," Amnesty International stated. The organization has urged Saudi Arabia to establish a moratorium on the death penalty as a first step toward abolition.
As the world watches, the case serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of free speech in the digital age and the high stakes for those who speak out—often with a single click—in countries where dissent is met with the harshest penalties. For Sivarasa and his family, the immediate crisis may have eased, but the legal battle is far from over.
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