Saudi Court Overturns Death Sentence For Man Over Facebook Comment

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has put aside the dying sentence imposed on a Sri Lankan nationwide, Anojan Sivarasa, over a Facebook remark deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Arun Hemachandra, introduced the event in a Facebook submit on Wednesday, saying the courtroom put aside the judgment on October 13, 2026.

“On 13 October 2026, the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia set aside the judgment imposing the death penalty on Anojan Sivarasa,” Hemachandra wrote.

He stated the choice adopted “sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Government of Sri Lanka”.

The deputy international minister additionally thanked the Saudi authorities for its cooperation and acknowledged the efforts of Sri Lanka’s ambassador, Foreign Ministry officers, the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment and the Sri Lankan and Saudi authorized groups concerned within the case.

Sivarasa, 24, was initially sentenced to 5 years in jail and fined three million Saudi riyals in July beneath Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law.

However, the Court of Appeal within the kingdom’s Eastern Region elevated the punishment to dying on September 17 after prosecutors challenged the preliminary sentence.

The case arose from a Facebook remark Sivarasa made throughout a web based alternate involving non secular remarks. He later deleted the remark and apologised in a video, in response to Amnesty International.

Sivarasa was arrested in July after the remark reportedly got here to the eye of Saudi authorities by way of his employer.

Amnesty International had urged Saudi authorities to overturn the dying sentence, elevating considerations about using capital punishment for on-line expression and alleging that Sivarasa was denied entry to a lawyer from his arrest till his preliminary sentencing.

The Sri Lankan authorities subsequently pursued diplomatic and authorized efforts to problem the sentence.

The newest ruling removes the dying penalty, however Hemachandra’s announcement didn’t make clear whether or not Sivarasa’s earlier conviction, jail time period or fantastic had additionally been overturned, or whether or not he can be launched.