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Diplomacy

Calls grow for Saudi Arabia to pardon man sentenced to death over Facebook post

BBC · 4 hours ago · Read the Full Story on BBC
Calls grow for Saudi Arabia to pardon man sentenced to death over Facebook post
AI SUMMARY

Family, civil society groups, and political parties in Sri Lanka are appealing for Saudi Arabia to pardon a 24-year-old migrant worker sentenced to death over a Facebook post.

  • Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, was sentenced to death by a Saudi appellate court for insulting Islam and the Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook comment.
  • The mother of the death-row inmate, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, made a tearful public plea for her son's life to be spared.
  • Civil society groups in Sri Lanka have launched a signature campaign to overturn the verdict, while political parties and government institutions pursue diplomatic efforts.
  • The family reported having no updates on Anojan's status since September 28, and the Sri Lankan government instructed them to refrain from making further statements.
  • The execution date remains unclear as Saudi authorities have not announced it publicly and are known to carry out sentences without prior notice to families or embassies.
  • The charges stemmed from a social media debate in late June following a viral video in Sri Lanka of a Muslim man kicking a dog after a Hindu pilgrimage.
  • During the online dispute, after another user mocked a Hindu deity, Anojan posted a response in Tamil containing disparaging remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.
  • Although Anojan deleted the comment and posted an apology video, a copy of the post was sent to his employer and Saudi authorities, leading to his arrest in July.
  • Capital punishment for religious offenses is relatively rare in Saudi Arabia compared to drug-related or murder cases.
  • Saudi Arabia has not yet issued an official response regarding the requests for a pardon.
Read the Full Story on BBC
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