Security

Saudi Arabia Overturns Death Sentence of Migrant Over Facebook Post

AI SUMMARY

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of a 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant who was convicted over a Facebook post.

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of 27-year-old Sri Lankan migrant Anojan Sivarasah.
Sivarasah had been sentenced to death by a Saudi appeals court in September for allegedly insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook.
The initial verdict sparked widespread shock in Sri Lanka and prompted diplomatic efforts to secure clemency.
The dispute began in June after an online debate sparked by a viral video, leading Sivarasah to respond to an insult against a Hindu deity with an insult in Tamil.
Sivarasah deleted the comment and posted an apology video, but screenshots led to his arrest by Saudi authorities in July.
Sivarasah was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and a three million Saudi Riyal fine before receiving the death penalty.
Sri Lankan legislator Faizer Musthapha confirmed the overturning of the death sentence to the BBC.
Human Rights Watch criticized Saudi authorities for using abusive laws to hand down disproportionate sentences for speech-related offenses.