Sri Lankan President Appeals to Saudi King to Save Youth Facing Death Sentence
What Happened
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka, has announced that his government will make a formal diplomatic appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia seeking a pardon for Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan worker reportedly sentenced to death over a social media post deemed insulting to Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The President met Anojan’s parents and said legal and diplomatic efforts were underway to secure clemency.
Key Takeaways
The case has become a high-profile diplomatic issue in Sri Lanka, drawing intervention from the President, opposition leaders and the Foreign Ministry. While the family says Anojan's sentence was upgraded from five years in prison to capital punishment, Sri Lankan authorities say they are still awaiting formal confirmation of the Saudi court's written judgment.