By Dwayne Ferreira.
24-year-old Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa who faced execution in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment has been spared the death penalty following a successful Supreme Court appeal, bringing immense relief to his family.
SAUDI ARABIA – A Sri Lankan national who faced execution in Saudi Arabia over a controversial Facebook comment has escaped the death penalty after the country’s Supreme Court overturned the sentence imposed against him.
Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old from Kalmunai in Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province, had been sentenced to death in September 2026 after Saudi authorities found that a comment he posted on Facebook violated the country’s laws concerning religious expression.
The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered on 13 October, marks a dramatic reversal in a case that attracted international attention and raised serious concerns about freedom of expression, human rights and the treatment of foreign nationals under Saudi Arabia’s judicial system.
Although the ruling removes the death sentence, Sivarasa’s release from custody has not yet been confirmed.
How a Facebook Comment Led to a Death Sentence
Sivarasa’s legal ordeal began on 1 July 2026, when he was arrested in Saudi Arabia following a Facebook comment that authorities considered insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
According to human rights organisation Amnesty International, Sivarasa subsequently deleted the comment and issued a video apology expressing remorse.
Despite these actions, he was prosecuted under Saudi law.
On 27 July, a criminal court sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of three million Saudi riyals, equivalent to approximately US$800,000.
However, the situation escalated dramatically when an appeals court increased the punishment to death on 17 September.
The decision transformed what had initially been a prison sentence into a life-threatening legal battle, leaving Sivarasa’s family facing the possibility that he could be executed for his online remarks.
A Race Against Time to Save His Life
Following the death sentence, diplomatic and legal efforts intensified to challenge the ruling and prevent Sivarasa’s execution.
Sri Lankan authorities engaged with their Saudi counterparts, while legal representatives worked to prepare an appeal before the kingdom’s highest court.
A team of Sri Lankan legal experts, working alongside Saudi lawyers, pursued the available judicial remedies in an effort to overturn the sentence.
The appeal was formally submitted to Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court on 11 October.
Just two days later, on 13 October, the court set aside the death sentence, delivering the breakthrough that Sivarasa’s family had desperately hoped for.
The decision was publicly confirmed on 14 October, bringing an end to the immediate threat of execution under the overturned judgment.
Supreme Court Decision Brings Relief
The ruling represents a significant development for Sivarasa, whose future had remained uncertain following the September judgment.
For his family in Sri Lanka, the decision has brought relief after weeks of anxiety over the possibility of losing their son.
The case had also drawn the attention of international human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, which criticised the imposition of capital punishment in connection with online expression.
Human rights advocates have long argued that the death penalty should never be imposed for the peaceful expression of opinions, including statements considered offensive or controversial.
Sivarasa’s case highlighted the potentially severe consequences of social media activity in countries where laws governing religious expression differ substantially from those in Sri Lanka.
Is Anojan Sivarasa Now a Free Man?
Despite the Supreme Court’s intervention, questions remain about Sivarasa’s legal status.
The overturning of his death sentence does not automatically mean that he has been acquitted or released from prison.
It remains unclear whether the original five-year custodial sentence and substantial financial penalty will continue to apply, whether the case will undergo further judicial review, or whether additional legal proceedings will be necessary.
Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed a date for his release or return to Sri Lanka.
Consequently, while Sivarasa has escaped the immediate threat of execution, his legal ordeal may not be entirely over.
A Second Chance at Life
The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks foreign nationals can face when navigating legal systems with significantly different laws and penalties.
For Sri Lankans working overseas, it also highlights the importance of understanding local regulations, particularly those governing religious expression and online communication.
What began with a single Facebook comment developed into a criminal prosecution, a prison sentence, an extraordinary financial penalty and ultimately a death sentence.
Now, following the Supreme Court’s decision, Sivarasa has been spared the gravest punishment.
His family must still await clarity on his freedom, but the most immediate danger has passed.
For Anojan Sivarasa, a Facebook comment nearly cost him his life. A Supreme Court ruling has now given him a second chance.
