A month after being sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a social media comment, 24-year-old Sri Lankan Hindu youth Anojan Sivarasa has received a major reprieve, with the Saudi Supreme Court setting aside his death sentence following diplomatic efforts by the Sri Lankan government and legal appeals. However, questions remain over his continued detention and the possibility of his release.
Thank you to everyone who supported and stood with Anojan throughout this difficult time ❤️🙏🇱🇰
The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has set aside the judgment imposing the death penalty on Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa pic.twitter.com/qpZQqc1las
— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) October 14, 2026
Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath wrote on X, “I am deeply pleased that the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has set aside the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s sustained diplomatic and legal efforts and bringing immense relief to him and his family. My sincere gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia and all those whose dedicated efforts helped achieve this outcome.”
I am deeply pleased that the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has set aside the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa, marking a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s sustained diplomatic and legal efforts and bringing immense relief to him and his family.
My sincere gratitude…
— Vijitha Herath (@HMVijithaHerath) October 14, 2026
Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan national, was arrested on 1 July 2026 after commenting on a Facebook post in a manner deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammad. He told the judge that he made the comment in a moment of anger, subsequently deleted it, and published a video apology expressing remorse.
On 27 July, the Criminal Court in Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia, sentenced Anojan Sivarasa to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of SAR 3 million (USD 800,000), the maximum punishment under Article 6 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law.
On 17 September, the Court of Appeal in the Eastern Region increased his sentence to death as a ‘hadd’ punishment, which is a fixed, mandatory punishment under Sharia.
Less than two months later, this was increased to a death sentence on appeal on 17 September. He was denied access to a lawyer from the moment of his arrest until his initial sentencing.
Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Employment, Arun Hemachandra, said, “The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has set aside the judgment imposing the death penalty on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa.” Anojan is set to tie the knot later this year.
Legal experts raised questions: “While Anojan has been granted a reprieve from the death sentence, his legal status remains unclear. Will he remain in a Saudi prison or will he be granted freedom?”
The last few weeks have been agonising for 24-year-old Sivarasa Anojan and his family, who live in Narpittimunai, near Kalmunai, in Sri Lanka’s Amparai district, after he was sentenced to death over a comment he made on social media in retaliation for a Muslim man making disparaging comments about Bhagwan Shiva.
However, countless pleas and diplomatic efforts finally led to him being granted a reprieve.
In Tamil Nadu, Hindu Munnani, BJP, Indu Makkal Katchi and VHP were the only organisations that sought his acquittal.
In a statement posted on X, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said, “When the faith, deities and religious symbols of non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, are insulted, should the same laws and punishments not apply equally? Will only Hindus be held accountable under the pretext of Islamic beliefs and laws, while those who hurt Hindu religious sentiments continue to enjoy protection? And how long will secular forces and intellectuals across the world maintain their grave silence over such anti-Hindu inhuman incidents?”
Save Sri Lankan Hindu Youth Sivarasa Anojan from Jihadist mindset…
Whether it is Pakistan, Bangladesh or Saudi Arabia, serious questions are bound to arise over the one-sided interpretation and blatant, unequal misuse of blasphemy laws.
When the faith, deities and religious…
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal বিনোদ বনসল వినోద్ బన్సాల్ (@vinod_bansal) October 14, 2026
Vinod Bansal further said, “Hurting anyone’s religious sentiments is unacceptable, regardless of whose sentiments are involved. However, granting immunity to some while sentencing others to death is equally unacceptable. One-sided punishment would make a mockery of the law and encourage discrimination.”
Hindu Munnani, in a post, said, “Our heartfelt thanks to the Saudi authorities for his release. We also thank the Sri Lankan and Indian governments for continuously voicing their concerns over Anojan’s death sentence and for their diplomatic and legal efforts.”
இலங்கைத் இந்து தமிழர் திரு. அனோஜன் சிவராஜா வின் மரண தண்டனை ரத்து…
சவுதி அரேபிய அரசுக்கு மனமார்ந்த நன்றிகளை பல கோடி தமிழ் இந்துக்களின் சார்பாக இந்துமுன்னணி தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறது.
விடுதலைக்காக தொடர்ந்து அழுத்தம் கொடுத்த இலங்கை அரசுக்கும், இந்திய அரசுக்கும், குரல் கொடுத்த… pic.twitter.com/Se21i1W3Lj
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) October 14, 2026
The trouble started for Anojan after he responded to a Muslim man in June this year. In a video that went viral, a Muslim man is seen kicking a dog during a Hindu pilgrimage, which sparked an intense religious debate online. It prompted Anojan to respond in Tamil. Shortly after posting the comment, he deleted it and posted an apology video. He later told the court that he had deleted it within 10 minutes, and his brother said that he had apologised.
Screenshots of the post made by Anojan were sent to his employer in Saudi Arabia, resulting in his arrest in July. Saudi officials seized the Anojan’s personal devices and deleted his social media accounts soon afterwards.
Anojan’s brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, alleged that the post in question had been sent by people in Sri Lanka to Anojan’s employers. “People in Saudi Arabia knew nothing about this matter. It was individuals in Sri Lanka who sent emails to the company where my brother worked. I do not even wish to mention who those people are”.
