Saudi Arabia Supreme Court overturns Anojan Sivarasa’s death sentence

The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia has overturned the death sentence imposed on Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, following sustained diplomatic and legal efforts by the Sri Lankan Government.  Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism confirmed in a media release issued on Wednesday that the Saudi Supreme Court had set aside the death sentence on Tuesday.

According to diplomatic sources, the decision followed an appeal filed before the Saudi Supreme Court on October 11, challenging a ruling delivered by the Saudi Court of Appeal on September 21. Sivarasa was sentenced to death in September after a Saudi appellate court convicted him of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over his comment.