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Anojan Sivarasa sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy
Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan migrant worker, has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for blasphemy. The conviction follows a social media dispute in which Sivarasa posted an insult toward the Prophet Muhammad in Tamil. Although he deleted the comment and posted an apology video, screenshots were used as evidence by authorities.
Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals. However, after the prosecution appealed to have the case tried under Sharia law rather than civil cybercrime legislation, the sentence was upgraded to death.
The case has triggered significant diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Sri Lanka. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to work toward overturning the sentence, and various political groups are coordinating to seek clemency. Sivarasa's mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, has made public pleas for mercy. The family reports they have had no updates on his condition since September 28, and Saudi authorities have not released an official execution timeline.
Entities
Anojan Sivarasa · Anura Kumara Dissanayake · Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi · Saudi Arabia · Sri Lanka
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake promised to do everything possible to overturn the death sentence. subjekt.no · www.utrop.no
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Sri Lankan government has instructed the family to refrain from making public statements while diplomatic efforts continue. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · tip.ba
- [● 7 SOURCES] The defendant deleted the Facebook comment and posted an apology video shortly after the original post. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · subjekt.no · canaledieci.it · www.bbc.co.uk · +2 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Sivarasa was initially sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals. subjekt.no · www.utrop.no · timesng.com
- [● 8 SOURCES] The defendant's mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, has publicly pleaded for mercy for her son. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · subjekt.no · canaledieci.it · www.bbc.co.uk · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Saudi authorities have not released an official timeline for the execution. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · canaledieci.it · www.bbc.co.uk · tip.ba · +3 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] An appellate court in Saudi Arabia found Anojan Sivarasa guilty of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · subjekt.no · canaledieci.it · www.bbc.co.uk · +4 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] The prosecution appealed to have the case tried under Sharia law rather than civil cybercrime legislation, resulting in the death sentence. mantovauno.it · canaledieci.it · subjekt.no · www.utrop.no
- [● 4 SOURCES] The prosecution appealed to have the case tried under Sharia law rather than civil cybercrime laws, resulting in the death sentence. mantovauno.it · canaledieci.it · subjekt.no · www.utrop.no
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Sri Lankan government has advised the family to avoid making public statements during ongoing diplomatic efforts. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · tip.ba
- [● 7 SOURCES] Anojan Sivarasa was found guilty of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad by an appellate court. timesng.com · mantovauno.it · subjekt.no · canaledieci.it · www.bbc.co.uk · +2 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to work toward overturning the death sentence. subjekt.no · www.utrop.no