Continuing story · 1 report
Anoj an Sivarasa’s Saudi Facebook-comment case
Developing
Where it stands
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death-penalty judgment against Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa over a Facebook comment. The report does not establish that he was acquitted, released or permitted to return home; his custody status and any further punishment remain unresolved.
Story trackerDay 7
1 report54 outlets81 sources
The story so far
Update 1
Saudi court sets aside worker’s death sentence over Facebook comment—but freedom is unconfirmed
Sri Lankan officials confirm that Anojan Sivarasa’s death-penalty judgment has been set aside. His release, final punishment and ability to return home remain unresolved.
What moved
- The Eastern Region appellate court imposes a death sentence.
- Sri Lankan officials announce that the death-penalty judgment has been set aside; Hemachandra dates the decision to October 13.
Still open after this report
- Sivarasa’s post-ruling custody status, any replacement sentence and the final status of the underlying conviction remain unconfirmed.
- No recovered order establishes whether the original five-year prison term and three-million-riyal fine remain enforceable.
History
Opened1 report
Who's involved
People
- Arun HemachandraSri Lankan politician1 report
- Faiszer MusthaphaSri Lankan politician1 report
Organizations
- Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment1 report
- Supreme Court1 report
Places
- Al AhsaAl Ahsa Saudi Arabia1 report
- Natpiddimunai (M.p ) 01Natpiddimunai (M.p ) 01, Kalmunai, Sri Lanka1 report
- RiyadhRiyadh Saudi Arabia1 report
- Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia1 report
- Sri LankaSri Lanka1 report
- سجن الدمام93P7+QX, Al Faisaliyah, Dammam 32271, Saudi Arabia1 report
Every outlet we read on this story
81 sources54 outlets2 wire copies
X (formerly Twitter)x.com7
- First reported
- Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence imposed on a Sri Lankan migrant worker over a Facebook comment, Sri Lanka’s Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said on Wednesday. https://colombogazette.com/2026/10/14/saudi-court-overturns-sri-lankan-workers-death-sentence-over-facebook-comment
- ⚖ Explainer: Sivarasa Anojan, the Facebook comment and the death sentence in Saudi Arabia Sivarasa Anojan, a 24-year-old Eelam Tamil engineer from Kalmunai, faces execution in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment he says he deleted within about ten minutes. He was first sentenced to five years' imprisonment, but after Saudi prosecutors appealed, the sentence was raised to death on 17 September. His family says he has since been attacked in prison, while Sri Lankan diplomats have not been allowed to see him. An appeal to the Saudi Supreme Court must be filed by 17 October. Here is how the case unfolded and what happens next.
- Thank you Sri Lanka. Romb Romb Nandri
- A Facebook argument that began around a religious dispute in Sri Lanka has ended with migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. Initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals, Sivarasa later received the death penalty after the case went before an appellate court. Sri Lanka is now preparing a Supreme Court appeal while pursuing diplomatic and clemency efforts. Here’s how the case unfolded. (Anojan Sivarasa, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, blasphemy case, Facebook comment, death sentence, Supreme Court appeal) #AnojanSivarasa #SaudiArabia #SriLanka #BlasphemyCase #OutlookIndia
- A Facebook comment. A death sentence. 24-year-old Eelam Tamil engineer Sivarasa Anojan faces execution in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment he says he deleted within minutes. How did it come to this, and can he be saved? A thread. 👇
- 🇱🇰 Tamil Hindu politicians, religious leaders and civil society gather at public ceremonies every year to celebrate the perpetrators of horrific crimes against Muslims and Sinhalese as "Great Heroes." But today it's "Save Anojan!" 🤷♀️ #SLnews #Sinhala #Muslim #Tamil #Eelam
- Saudi Arabia has sentenced Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan migrant worker, to death. His family is trying to bring him home. The 26-year-old moved to Saudi Arabia in 2025 to work for Denys Arabia, an engineering, procurement, and construction contractor. During Sri Lanka’s June 2026 Pada Yatra, a stray dog began following pilgrims, who named him after Lord Subramaniam. Then, a video of a man kicking the dog went viral. One user made a reportedly derogatory comment about Shiva. Sivarasa responded with an allegedly derogatory comment about Prophet Muhammad. Sivarasa deleted his comment after 10 minutes and apologized on video. But people still circulated his words with his photo. By June 30, Denys Arabia had fired him. “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, Sivarasa’s brother, told BBC. On July 1, the Sri Lankan embassy in Saudi Arabia asked Denys Arabia to help br...
tamilguardian.com6
- Explainer: Sivarasa Anojan, the Facebook comment and the death sentence in Saudi Arabia | Tamil Guardian
- Saudi Supreme Court overturns death sentence on Tamil worker Anojan | Tamil Guardian
- Tamil youth faces death sentence in Saudi Arabia over Facebook comment | Tamil Guardian
- Sri Lankan ambassador visits death-row prisoner Anojan in Saudi Arabia | Tamil Guardian
- Tamil youth faces death sentence in Saudi Arabia over Facebook comment | Tamil Guardian
- Amnesty International urges Saudi Arabia to quash Anojan's death sentence and release him | Tamil Guardian
Times Onlinesundaytimes.lk6
- Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence set aside by Saudi Supreme Court - TimesOnline
- Faiszer Musthapha nominated as NDF National list MP - TimesOnline
- State Minister Faizer Mustapha tenders resignation - TimesOnline
- New Legal Advisor to President appointed - TimesOnline
- Cricket: Minister Musthapha to travel to Dubai for do-or-die talks with the ICC - TimesOnline
- Faiz Musthapha appointed as Chancellor of South-Eastern University - TimesOnline
Newswirenewswire.lk4
- First reported
- Saudi Supreme Court sets aside death sentence of Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa - Deputy FM
- Anojan Sivarasa case: Legal team finalizes appeal to Saudi Supreme Court
- Sri Lanka thanks Saudi Arabia after Supreme Court overturns Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence
- Sri Lankan ambassador visits Anojan Sivarasa at Dammam prison
The Independentindependent.co.uk3
Onlankaonlanka.com2
Outlook Indiaoutlookindia.com2
Sri Lanka News | Ada Derana | Truth Firstadaderana.lk2
Amnesty Internationalamnesty.org1
Amnesty International UKamnesty.org.uk1
Amnesty International USAamnestyusa.org1
austvnews.com.au1
BBC Newsbbc.co.uk1
Colombo Telegraphcolombotelegraph.com1
El-Balad.comel-balad.com1
facebook.com1
Fact Crescendo Afghanistan Englishfactcrescendo.com1
Free Press Journalfreepressjournal.in1
Hindustan Timeshindustantimes.com1
Human Rights Watchhrw.org1
- First reported
- Saudi Arabia: Death Penalty for Facebook Comment
IBC Tamilibctamil.com1
India Todayindiatoday.in1
International Business Times UKibtimes.co.uk1
Jaffna Monitorjaffnamonitor.com1
Khaleej Timeskhaleejtimes.com1
lankaleader.lk1
Latest in the News Sphere | The Morningthemorning.lk1
manthri.lk1
Mawratanews.lk | Sri Lanka Latest Sinhala News and Headlinesmawratanews.lk1
News Centernewscenter.lk1
newsbytesapp.com1
Okay Newsokaynews.com1
- First reported
- Saudi Court Overturns Anojan Sivarasa’s Death Sentence
Parliament of Sri Lankaparliament.lk1
People Dailypeopledaily.digital1
Peoples Gazette Nigeriagazettengr.com1
Punch Newspaperspunchng.com1
- First reported
- Man sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over Facebook comment
The Examinerexaminer.media1
The Hinduthehindu.com1
The Siasat Dailysiasat.com1
The Times of Indiaindiatimes.com1
TheCommuneMagthecommunemag.com1
ThePrinttheprint.in1First
wikipedia.org1