Clemency for Anojan Sivarasa

The case of Anojan Sivarasa, the 24-year-old Sri Lankan national, who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for posting a comment on Facebook deemed insulting to Islam, has drawn worldwide attention. While the primary concerns are among Sri Lankans, his story has garnered international coverage with many pleading for clemency for the young man.

The Government too has been doing its best to intervene in the case with a team of legal experts from here travelling to Saudi Arabia to discuss with the relevant authorities clemency for Anojan.

International Human rights organisation Amnesty International (AI) has also made a plea for clemency for the Lankan man. In a statement, AI requested the Saudi Arabian authorities to urgently overturn the death sentence issued against the migrant worker on charges of “blasphemy” and  called on Saudi authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally given his charges stem entirely from his exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

In Sri Lanka many remember the case of domestic worker Rizana Nafeek who was executed in  2013, after repeated requests by the government for clemency failed.

Saudi Arabia is among the top five countries where the death penalty is carried out. In December 2025, the European Saudi Organisation for Human Rights (ESOHR) reported that Saudi Arabia carried out 347 executions in 2025, marking a new high for the nation, after a record-breaking 345 executions in 2024. The majority of those executed were foreigners, who accounted for 57% of all those executed in 2025, mainly for drug related cases.

For any person travelling to a foreign country, the local laws apply and while thousands of Lankans work in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, such reported cases are few. Those who travel for employment are aware of the local laws and the local sensitivities with regards to religious beliefs and practices and adhere to them. This is essential  whether one is in Saudi Arabia or any other country. The saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ is an age-old adage and simply illustrates the need for people to adapt to local customs and practices when they are in a foreign land. This is true largely when it comes to religious matters which are highly emotive and hence draw a harsh response.

In Sri Lanka too several foreigners have faced  legal issues over instances which were deemed insulting to Buddhism. In 2024, a British tourist was arrested and deported from Sri Lanka over a Buddha tattoo which raised serious questions over the handling of the cases by the authorities and the harassment of the woman. If she was in a country with harsher laws, she may have also faced the death penalty.

Saudi Arabia has been on the path of change for several years now and its laws too are changing to make the country more accessible and friendly towards foreigner nationals. Spearheaded by Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, the country has been systematically dismantling decades of ultraconservative policies. This has made the country more welcome for foreigners.

Anojan, had gone to the Kingdom for employment last year. He has already apologised for his remarks he has made on Facebook and no doubt will do so many times over if he is pardoned. It is hoped that the authorities in Saudi Arabia will give a hearing to the Lankan representatives and agree to release Anojan so he can reunite with his family back home.