Saudi Arabia overturns Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence over Facebook post
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence over a Facebook post termed blasphemous against Islam.
Sri Lankan deputy foreign minister Arun Hemachandra disclosed this in a social media post on Wednesday.
“On 13 October 2026, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia set aside the judgment imposing the death penalty on Anojan Sivarasa,” Mr Hemachandra said. “This follows sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka.”
This comes amid global uproar over the Saudi appellate court’s verdict sentencing Mr Sivarasa to death over a Facebook post.
Mr Sivarasa, 27, a Sri Lankan migrant worker, was sentenced to death by a Saudi appellate court in September over Facebook comments deemed blasphemous against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
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