Politics · 2026-10-14 · Afternoon briefing

Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for Sri Lankan over Facebook post

Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has overturned a death sentence handed to a 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker for a comment made on Facebook. Anojan Sivarasa was convicted of blasphemy against Islam in September by a Saudi appellate court, a verdict that prompted diplomatic efforts from Colombo and calls for clemency from international rights groups.

The case stemmed from an online religious dispute in June. Sivarasa was arrested in July after a screenshot of his comment was shown to his employer, despite him having deleted it and posted an apology. A lower court initially sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of three million riyals ($800,000), but an appellate court later escalated the punishment to death.

A Sri Lankan lawmaker involved in the negotiations confirmed the decision and said the legal team is now reviewing the Supreme Court's latest ruling. Human Rights Watch had previously criticised Saudi Arabia's use of what it called "abusive laws" to deliver extraordinary sentences for speech offences, particularly against migrant workers.

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• Saudia Arabia throws out death sentence for man over Facebook post
• Saudi Arabia cancels death sentence for Sri Lankan who insulted Prophet Muhammad
• Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence of Sri Lankan Hindu man over Facebook post
• Saudi Arabia overturns Sri Lankan migrant worker’s death sentence over Facebook comment
• Saudi court overturns death sentence for Sri Lankan man

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