Saudi Court Hands Death Sentence for Facebook Insult
A Sri Lankan man faces execution after insulting Prophet Muhammad on Facebook, sparking international outcry.
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A Saudi appeals court has sentenced a 24-year-old Sri Lankan man to death for an online comment that insulted the Prophet Muhammad. The incident, which began as an online religious dispute, has drawn international attention and condemnation.
Incident and Legal Proceedings
Anojan Sivarasa, the accused, was arrested in July after a viral video from a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka sparked an online dispute. When another user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, Sivarasa responded in Tamil with an insult targeted at Muhammad. He later deleted his comment and posted an apology video after a screenshot was shared with his employer, according to the BBC.
Sivarasa’s brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, revealed that people in Sri Lanka emailed his brother’s Saudi employer, which then informed Saudi authorities. ‘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,’ Hamsidan told BBC Sinhala.
Legal Outcomes and International Response
Saudi officials seized Sivarasa’s devices and deleted his social media accounts. The Criminal Court in Al-Ahsa initially sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine equivalent to $800,000. An appeal seeking to reduce his original sentence was rejected, according to Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath. Saudi prosecutors separately sought to have him prosecuted under Sharia law, and the appeals court granted that request, increasing his sentence to death.
Sivarasa has appealed the death sentence, according to Amnesty International. ‘No one should be imprisoned, let alone face execution simply for expressing their views, even if these are deemed insulting or offensive,’ said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Family Concerns and Saudi Execution Practices
His family has received no updates on his condition since September 28, according to the BBC. ‘We informed the embassy and asked officials to look into the matter and update us,’ Hamsidan said. ‘They said they would check. We are still waiting, as we have not yet received a response.’
Saudi Arabia has a history of carrying out death sentences without warning, sometimes informing families only after the execution. It is one of the world’s leading executioners, with at least 175 people executed in the country so far this year, according to Amnesty International.
Source: Daily Wire
