Justitie · Death sentence reversedSaudi Court Overturns Worker’s Death Sentence Over Facebook Comment—Can He Go Home?Geschreven 14 oktober 2026 om 12:32 UTCKijkenTranscript0:07Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned Anojan Sivarasa's death sentence over a0:12Facebook comment.0:13The Sri Lankan migrant worker had faced execution after an online religious0:17argument.0:17His family is still waiting to learn whether he can return home.0:20What does the reversal mean for his freedom and any punishment he may still face?0:24Sri Lanka's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemakandra announced the reversal on0:28October 14th.0:29The foreign ministry confirmed it that day, calling it a significant breakthrough.0:33Officials haven't confirmed whether Sivarasa has been released or where he is now.0:37Sivarasa comes from Narpitimunai, near Kalmunai, in Sri Lanka's eastern province.0:42He's a Tamil Hindu who traveled abroad for work.0:45His prosecution took place in Al-Assa, and before the reversal he was reported held0:49at Dhammam Central Prison.0:50Hemachandra says the court ruled on October 13th, one day before his announcement.0:55He credited sustained diplomatic and legal work by Sri Lanka's government.0:59His statement specifically identifies the judgment that imposed the death penalty.1:03The decision has also been dated October 14th, leaving a one-day discrepancy.1:07Sri Lanka's government confirms the death sentence was set aside.1:11The court's reasons and its instructions for what happens next still aren't clear.1:15Screenshots of Sivarasa's comment reached his employer and Saudi authorities.1:19The argument developed in late June around a circulating video of a man kicking a1:23dog that had followed Hindu pilgrims.1:26Another participant insulted a Hindu deity, and Sivarasa replied in Tamil with1:30remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.1:32Sivarasa says he deleted the comment within about 10 minutes.1:35He also posted an apology video, but screenshots continued circulating.1:40The Saudi courts treated his remarks as blasphemy, an offense involving expression1:45considered insulting to religion.1:47Saudi authorities arrested him in the Damam area in early July.1:50A contemporaneous human rights chronology gives July 1st.1:53July 1st also appears in the case history.1:56Authorities seized his devices and his accounts were removed.1:59The prosecution centered on his words during that religious argument.2:02The Al Assa criminal court initially imposed five years in prison and a fine of2:06three million Saudi rials.2:08It used Saudi Arabia's cybercrime law, which covers material treated as undermining2:13religious values or public morals.2:15Saivaras's defense challenged the five-year sentence, and the court rejected that2:19challenge.2:20Prosecutors separately sought to treat his conduct as blasphemy under Sharia Islamic2:25law.2:25The appellate court then imposed death.2:28The prosecution's demand for harsher legal treatment was part of that escalation.2:32The Eastern Region Court of Appeal imposed death on September 17th.2:36A Supreme Court appeal followed on October 11th.2:38Hemachandra dates the reversal to October 13th and announced it on October 14th.2:43No execution date had been publicly announced.2:46Sri Lanka sent a legal team to Riyadh in early October.2:49It included lawmaker and senior lawyer Fazer Mustafa, Upal Kumara Peruma, Hafil2:54Farish, and an additional solicitor general lawyers from both countries worked on2:58the appeal.2:59Ambassador Amir Ajward coordinated the appeal through Sri Lanka's embassy in Riyadh.3:04Hemachandra thanked the Saudi government, Sri Lankan officials, and both legal3:08teams.3:09He also credited the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment for its work.3:13The ambassador visited Sivarasa before the reversal around October 8th.3:17A later official account described him as in good health.3:20Earlier, his family alleged he'd been attacked or injured in prison and described3:24limited contact after about September 28th.3:27Saudi authorities described his injuries as minor scratches from a fight.3:31The circumstances of that episode remain unclear.3:35The later statement about his health doesn't settle what happened earlier, and the3:38visit preceded the Supreme Court's decision.3:41Mustafa says Sri Lankan officials are reviewing the ruling.3:44Kumarapuruma expects a fresh sentence, but no new punishment has been confirmed.3:49The final status of the conviction and the earlier prison term and fine remains3:52unclear.3:53The death penalty judgment has been removed.3:56Sivarasa's ability to leave prison and return to Sri Lanka still depends on the4:00custody and sentencing decisions that follow.Lees het artikelTijdlijn van het verhaalHeyDexDe korte video ↗
