A 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, is facing execution in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court sentenced him to death over a Facebook comment deemed blasphemous, according to BBC reports.
Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals under Saudi Arabia’s cybercrime law.
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However, his case took a dramatic turn on September 17 after prosecutors appealed against the initial judgment and sought to have him tried under Sharia law.
The appellate court subsequently increased the punishment to death.
The case has triggered calls for intervention from human rights and secular organisations, with Humanists UK urging the British Government to take immediate action.
The organisation launched a petition on Wednesday calling on the UK Government to use diplomatic channels to help prevent Sivarasa’s execution.
Sivarasa was reportedly convicted after posting a comment insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad during an argument on social media.
According to reports, the incident began after another user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity.
Sivarasa responded with an insulting comment about the Prophet Muhammad but reportedly deleted the post within minutes and later apologised in a video.
The comment had nevertheless been captured in a screenshot and reportedly sent to his employer and Saudi authorities.
He was subsequently arrested in July.
His family has reportedly not heard from him since September 28, while Saudi authorities have not announced a date for his execution.
Humanists UK Chief Executive Andrew Copson called on the British Government to raise the case with Saudi authorities at the highest level.
Copson argued that people should not face severe punishment for expressing views about religion.
“Everyone has the right to speak freely about religion, and no one should ever face punishment for doing so, much less be put to death,” he said.
He also urged the UK Government to use its diplomatic influence to encourage the repeal of blasphemy laws in countries where such laws remain in force.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan government has been pursuing efforts to secure a pardon for Sivarasa.
BBC reported that Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake met members of Sivarasa’s family in September and assured them that his government would make efforts to secure his release.
The Sri Lankan government has also reportedly sent a four-member legal delegation to Saudi Arabia to meet lawyers handling the case.
Religious leaders and civil society organisations in Sri Lanka have joined the calls for government intervention.
Buddhist and Hindu leaders have reportedly submitted a memorandum to the presidential secretariat seeking action on the case.
Sivarasa’s brother, Hamsidan, previously told the BBC that the family contacted the Sri Lankan embassy after communication with Anojan stopped.
He said people in Saudi Arabia had not initially known about the incident and alleged that individuals in Sri Lanka had sent emails about the Facebook comment to his brother’s employer.
The case has renewed attention on Saudi Arabia’s treatment of online speech and religious expression.
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The country has previously faced criticism from human rights organisations over severe punishments linked to online activity, although executions for blasphemy are considered relatively rare compared with executions for offences such as drug-related crimes and murder.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
