Sri Lanka Appeals for Clemency as Migrant Worker Faces Execution in Saudi Arabia Over Blasphemy Conviction

“I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us.”

With tears streaming down her face, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi issued an emotional appeal for the life of her eldest son, Anojan Sivarasa. The 24-year-old migrant worker now faces execution in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court convicted him of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad based on a comment he made on Facebook.

The verdict has triggered a wave of alarm across Sri Lanka, galvanizing civil society petitions and prompting coordinated diplomatic intervention from various political parties and government bodies to secure clemency.

Despite the heightened attention, the family has received no information regarding his status since 28 September. Meanwhile, Colombo has advised the family to hold off on issuing further public statements while diplomatic channels remain active.

Riyadh has not released an official schedule for the execution, leaving the timing of the sentence uncertain. Saudi Arabia has a documented history of carrying out hangings without prior warning to families or foreign embassies, often notifying relatives only after the sentence has been executed.

The prosecution arose from a social media altercation linked to an event during a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. In late June, video footage circulated widely showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog near a group of Hindu pilgrims, which ignited religious debates online.

During the ensuing online exchange, a user posted offensive remarks regarding a Hindu deity, prompting Anojan to respond in Tamil with comments insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Anojan quickly removed the comment and released a video apology, but the post had already been screenshotted and forwarded to his employer and Saudi authorities, resulting in his arrest in July.

Following the arrest, his personal electronics were confiscated, and his social media profiles were deleted by Saudi officials.

“People in Saudi Arabia knew nothing about this matter. It was individuals in Sri Lanka who sent emails to the company where my brother worked. I do not even wish to mention who those people are,” said Anojan’s brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, in an interview with BBC Sinhala.

According to Hamsidan, the firm employing Anojan then informed Saudi authorities, who registered a legal case against him.

The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court initially sentenced Anojan to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals (approximately $0.8 million; £0.6 million). An appeal filed on his behalf to commute the sentence was denied, according to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

The situation escalated sharply on 17 September when Saudi prosecutors requested that Anojan be tried under Sharia law rather than the kingdom’s cybercrime statutes. The appellate court accepted this request, escalating the penalty to death.

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is utilizing every available mechanism to assist Anojan.

On 21 September, Anojan’s family met with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat. The President assured them that the state would make every effort to secure a full pardon, directing diplomatic missions to engage with Saudi officials.

The case has also unified support across religious lines. Senior Buddhist leaders, including the Mahanayake Theros of the Ramanna Nikaya and the Amarapura Maha Nikaya, alongside Hindu religious representatives, submitted a memorandum to the Presidential Secretariat demanding immediate state action.

Additionally, a four-person Sri Lankan legal delegation is set to depart for Saudi Arabia this week to consult with Anojan’s local defense counsel.

“There are two law firms in Saudi Arabia handling Anojan’s case. We are going there to meet the lawyers from these two firms, discuss the case and plan what can be done next,” stated team member Upul Kumarapperuma, MP, speaking to BBC Sinhala.

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