A Saudi Arabian appellate court has upheld the death sentence of 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa for blasphemy, according to sources familiar with the case.
The ruling has triggered urgent diplomatic efforts and civil society petitions across Sri Lanka as his family awaits word on his condition.
Sivarasa was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals, approximately $800,000.
The charge stemmed from insulting the Prophet Muhammad in response to derogatory comments made about a Hindu deity.
On September 17, prosecutors successfully appealed to have him prosecuted under Sharia law instead of cybercrime legislation, escalating his sentence to capital punishment.
His family has not received any updates on his condition since September 28, when communication abruptly ceased.
Relatives fear that formal prison restrictions on death row inmates have taken effect.
"I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us," said Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, mother of Anojan Sivarasa.
The conflict originated in late June after footage from a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka circulated online, sparking arguments during which an individual posted insulting remarks regarding a Hindu deity.
Although Sivarasa deleted his response and published an apology video, screenshots were sent to his employer and Saudi authorities, leading to his arrest in July and the seizure of his personal devices.
"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," said Hamsidan Sivarasa, brother of Anojan Sivarasa.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed active involvement in the matter.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured the family during a September 21 meeting that the government would seek a general pardon through diplomatic channels.
Cross-religious support has also emerged within Sri Lanka, where senior Buddhist leaders from the Ramanna Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya joined Hindu leaders in submitting a joint memorandum requesting urgent state action.
To assist in defense planning, a four-member legal delegation from Sri Lanka is traveling to Saudi Arabia to coordinate directly with local defense firms.
"There are two law firms in Saudi Arabia handling Anojan's case.
We are going there to meet the lawyers from these two firms, discuss the case and plan what can be done next," said Upul Kumarapperuma, President's Counsel.
Meanwhile, the family remains without direct contact or confirmation from official Saudi authorities regarding the execution timeline or Sivarasa's current status inside the prison system.
"My brother hasn't called for two days. We informed the embassy and asked officials to look into the matter and update us.
They said they would check. We are still waiting, as we have not yet received a response," said Hamsidan Sivarasa.
Human rights groups including Amnesty International have previously raised concerns over harsh sentences imposed for online speech in Saudi Arabia, pointing to past cases like that of retired teacher Mohammed Al Ghamdi.
"The death sentence against Mohammad bin Nasser al-Ghamdi, who has a total of just 10 followers on both of his anonymous Twitter accounts and is accused of nothing other than expressing his opinions on social media, is ludicrous," said Philip Luther, Research and Advocacy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.
Al Ghamdi's sentence was later overturned and reduced to 30 years in prison according to human rights organization ALQST, highlighting the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by foreign workers within the kingdom's legal framework.
