Sri Lanka intensifies diplomatic and legal efforts to save Anojan from death sentence

Two Sri Lankan delegations are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia as efforts intensify to secure clemency for Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan national facing a death sentence over a social media post deemed blasphemous.

A four-member legal delegation is due to travel to Saudi Arabia to work with lawyers handling Sivarasa’s case and finalise an appeal against the death sentence.

The delegation includes President’s Counsels Azard Navavi, Faizer Musthapha and Upul Kumarapperuma, along with Attorney-at-Law Hafeel Farisz.

The legal team is expected to meet representatives of two Saudi legal firms retained through Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discuss the appeal process as well as possible avenues to secure Sivarasa’s release or a commutation of his sentence.

Separately, a special parliamentary delegation is also expected to travel to Saudi Arabia seeking clemency for Sivarasa, carrying an appeal from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

Sivarasa, a 27-year-old Sri Lankan employed in Saudi Arabia, was arrested over a comment posted on social media that was deemed insulting to the Prophet.

He was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals. Following subsequent legal proceedings, a death sentence was imposed.

The clemency campaign has drawn support across religious communities in Sri Lanka. Several Sri Lankan Muslim organisations have backed appeals seeking clemency for Sivarasa, while Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim religious leaders have also called for intervention to secure his release.

International organisations have also appealed to Saudi authorities over the case. (Newswire)

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