Amnesty International has said that Saudi Arabia’s authorities must urgently overturn the death sentence issued against Sri Lankan migrant worker – Anojan Sivarasa on charges of “blasphemy”.

The organization is calling on Saudi authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally given his charges stem entirely from his exercise of his right to freedom of expression.The case raises alarming concerns about the application of the death penalty and the arbitrariness of the Saudi criminal justice system, with his initial sentence of five years transformed into a death sentence less than two months later on appeal. No one should be imprisoned, let alone face execution simply for expressing their views, even if these are deemed insulting or offensive. Anojan Sivarasa was exercising his right to freedom of expression and his execution would amount to arbitrary deprivation of life. Saudi authorities must immediately quash this death sentence, overturn his conviction and release him immediately and unconditionally,” said Heba Morayef, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Morayef has further noted :

“International human rights law restricts the death penalty to the ‘most serious crimes,’ understood to involve intentional killing, yet the Saudi authorities have continued to impose death sentences for conduct that should not be criminalized and to execute people at a startling rate after grossly unfair trials, including for non-violent offenses.‘Sentencing a man to death over a social media post is a chilling illustration of the Saudi authorities’ willingness to impose this cruel and irreversible punishment, including for acts that should never be criminalized. Saudi authorities should immediately establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a first move towards its full abolition.”

Meanwhile, It is reported that the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is scheduled to visit Dammam Prison, where Anojan is being held, today (Oct. 08).

The visit is to look into reports that Anojan was injured after being assaulted by another inmate inside the prison.

Meanwhile, a Sri Lankan delegation that travelled to Saudi Arabia to file an appeal before the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia against the death sentence is also scheduled to take further action today.

Saudi Arabia: Overturn death sentence against Sr