Saudi Supreme Court Overturns Death Sentence for Sri Lankan Migrant
· World · BBC News, India Today
Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa. Sivarasa was originally convicted of blasphemy by an appellate court in September following a social media post that insulted the Prophet Muhammad. The incident originated from an online dispute involving a video of a man kicking a dog near Hindu pilgrims, which led to a heated exchange of derogatory remarks. Although Sivarasa deleted his comment and issued an apology video, he was arrested in July after a screenshot was reported to his employer and Saudi officials. The Al-Ahsa Criminal Court had initially sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi riyals. It remains unclear if further legal proceedings will follow or if Sivarasa will remain in detention.
Why it matters
The ruling provides relief for the migrant worker and his family, who had been separated from him since late September. It also highlights the ongoing diplomatic and legal efforts by Sri Lankan authorities to protect their citizens facing strict speech-related laws in the Gulf region.
Read the original report — BBC News
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