Key facts
- Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan migrant worker.
- Sivarasa was convicted of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad for a Facebook comment.
- The death sentence was set aside on Wednesday.
- Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals.
- Human rights groups had urged Saudi authorities to end the use of speech-related offenses for sentencing.
Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of a Sri Lankan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, who had been convicted of blasphemy for comments made on Facebook. The ruling was announced by Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister, Arun Hemachandra, on Wednesday.
Sivarasa, 27, was sentenced to death in September by a Saudi appellate court. The conviction stemmed from derogatory remarks he posted in response to a widely circulated video of a Muslim man kicking a dog following Hindu pilgrims. Although Sivarasa deleted the comment and posted an apology video, a screenshot led to his arrest in July.
Initially, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court had sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals ($0.8 million; £0.6 million). Sri Lankan lawmaker Faizer Mustafa, who is involved in legal negotiations, confirmed the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the death sentence and stated that they are reviewing the ruling.
International human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, had called on Saudi authorities to spare Sivarasa's life, criticizing the use of "abusive laws" for speech-related offenses, particularly against vulnerable migrant workers.