Sri Lankan Tamil worker faces death penalty in Saudi Arabia over social media post on Islam
A Sri Lankan migrant worker, Sivarasa Anojan, is facing death penalty in Saudi Arabia over a social media post that was considered insulting to Islam. He had earlier been sentenced to five years in prison. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry is seeking official confirmation of the reported death sentence and is taking up the matter through diplomatic channels.
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The case of Sri Lankan migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan has taken a serious turn after reports that a Saudi appellate court has increased his earlier five-year prison sentence to the death penalty.
Anojan, who is from Natpittimunai in Kalmunai, was earlier sentenced to five years in prison and fined 3 million Saudi Riyals over a social media post that Saudi authorities considered offensive to Islam. He had travelled to Saudi Arabia for work around nine months ago.
(Image Source: Organiser Weekly)
The reported death sentence came after Anojan appealed against the original punishment.
However, the Sri Lankan government has not yet received the official written judgment from Saudi authorities. The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry is monitoring the case through its embassy in Riyadh.
What happened to Anojan?
The case began over a Facebook post that was considered offensive to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
The post was reportedly made after an emotional dispute in Sri Lanka. It was later shared widely on social media.
Anojan deleted the post and apologised, but screenshots of the post had already circulated.
Saudi authorities later arrested him and started legal proceedings.
An Eelam Tamil Hindu migrant worker, Sivarasa Anojan, has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia after Sri Lankan Muslims reported his Facebook comment to authorities. Anojan was angered by a Muslim youth in his hometown kicking a dog that accompanied Hindu pilgrims. pic.twitter.com/UB90o8OItD
— Rooftop Tiger (@RooftopTiger) September 17, 2026
In the original case, Anojan was sentenced to five years in prison and fined SAR 3 million. His electronic device was also ordered to be confiscated and the social media account linked to the case was reportedly ordered to be closed.
Death sentence yet to be officially confirmed
The reported death sentence was communicated to the Sri Lankan Embassy in Riyadh through Anojan's lawyer.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said it had been verbally informed that the sentence had reportedly been increased to capital punishment. However, the government is still waiting for the formal written judgment from the Saudi authorities.
The reported judgment can be challenged before the Saudi Supreme Court within one month.
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Sri Lanka steps up diplomatic efforts
The Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry is now working through diplomatic channels and the country's embassy in Riyadh to follow the case.
The embassy is also in contact with Anojan's family and is looking at possible legal options.
Several Sri Lankan politicians have also called for urgent action.
Batticaloa District MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam said he would raise the matter in Parliament. He also called for experienced legal representation and said all available legal and diplomatic options should be explored.
Questions raised over appeal
Rasamanickam has also raised questions about how Anojan's appeal was handled.
According to him, the family filed the appeal after receiving advice from Sri Lankan officials, even though the embassy had earlier assessed that the chances of reducing the sentence were very low.
He also claimed that the family paid around Rs 1.89 million in legal fees and questioned the handling of the legal representation and appeal papers. These claims have not been independently established.
Calls for intervention
The reported death sentence has led to further calls for intervention from Sri Lankan political leaders.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has urged Saudi authorities to show mercy if the death sentence is confirmed.
Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan has also called on the Sri Lankan government to seek India's help in the case. He has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene.
Anojan's family had earlier sought help to deal with the financial burden of the case and the cost of legal proceedings.