A Sri Lankan Hindu migrant worker, Sivarasa Anojan, is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment about Islam and Prophet Muhammad that he posted following a religious argument in Sri Lanka. His family, politicians and religious leaders have joined efforts seeking clemency through diplomatic and legal appeals.

For Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi of Sri Lanka, the wait for news of her eldest son has become almost traumatising. Her 24-year-old son, Sivarasa Anojan, is thousands of kilometres away in Saudi Arabia’s prison, facing a death sentence over a Facebook comment he posted during a heated religious argument in Sri Lanka.

What began as an online exchange has now turned into a case involving two countries, diplomatic intervention, religious leaders and a last-ditch legal battle. Anojan, a Sri Lankan Hindu migrant worker from Kalmunai, was initially sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals. The punishment was later escalated to death after Saudi prosecutors appealed for him to be charged under Sharia law.

His family has not heard from him since September 28.

Speaking to the BBC, Anojan’s brother Hamsidan Sivarasa said the family had contacted the Sri Lankan embassy after the calls stopped. Officials told them they would look into the matter.

“We are still waiting, as we have not yet received a response,” Hamsidan said.

For his mother, the uncertainty has become a torment. Yogalakshmi appealed for mercy and asked that her son be forgiven and sent home. “I plead for mercy for the wrongs committed by my son. Please forgive him and send him back to us,” Anojan’s mother told the BBC.

The family does not know when, or whether, it will hear Anojan’s voice again.

WHEN A SOCIAL MEDIA ARGUMENT TURNED FATAL IN SAUDI ARABIA

The case began after an incident during a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka in late June. Footage showing a young Muslim man kicking a dog following Hindu pilgrims circulated on social media and triggered a heated exchange between users.

During the online argument, a user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity. Anojan responded in Tamil with a comment about Prophet Muhammad. He deleted the comment soon afterwards and posted an apology video.

But a screenshot of the original post had already been captured, and the internet never forgets anything.

Anojan’s brother told the BBC that the matter was brought to the attention of the company where Anojan worked in Saudi Arabia by people in Sri Lanka. “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,” Hamsidan said.

The company notified Saudi authorities, who registered a case against Anojan. His personal devices were seized, and his social media accounts were subsequently deleted, according to news reports.

The young worker was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court on July 15 to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi riyals, roughly $800,000, for the Facebook comment. That sentence was soon dramatically changed.

HOW DID ANOJAN’S FIVE-YEAR PRISON VERDICT TURN INTO DEATH SENTENCE?

An appeal was filed on Anojan’s behalf seeking a reduction in his sentence, but it was rejected, according to the Tamil Guardian newspaper quoting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.

Saudi prosecutors then appealed against the ruling, seeking to have Anojan prosecuted under Sharia law rather than the country’s cybercrime legislation.

The appellate court accepted the prosecution’s request on September 17 and increased his sentence to death, the BBC reported.

The escalation has shocked Anojan’s family and triggered a growing campaign across Sri Lanka for clemency.

Tamil Guardian reported on October 5 that six Tamil and Muslim MPs, Rauff Hakeem, Rishad Bathiudeen, V. Radhakrishnan, Jeevan Thondaman, Selvam Adaikalanathan and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, wrote to the Saudi foreign minister on September 24 seeking mercy.

They argued that the incident was not characteristic of Anojan and that he had not deliberately intended to commit such an offence.

The appeal has also brought together religious leaders from different communities.

Senior Buddhist leaders, including Mahanayake Theros of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Amarapura Maha Nikaya, and Hindu religious leaders submitted memoranda to the Sri Lankan president urging immediate intervention, according to the Tamil Guardian newspaper.

The campaign has spread through Sri Lanka’s North and East, with signature campaigns, vigils and joint prayers being held for Anojan’s release.

DIPLOMACY AND A LAST-DITCH LEGAL FIGHT

Anojan’s family met Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the Presidential Secretariat on September 21. The president assured them that the government would make every effort to obtain a general pardon and instructed officials to engage Saudi authorities.

Sri Lanka is now sending a legal team to Saudi Arabia.

Tamil Guardian reported on October 5 that a four-member delegation led by Additional Solicitor General Azard Navavi would travel to Saudi Arabia to finalise an appeal before the Saudi Supreme Court.

The delegation includes President’s Counsel Faizer Musthapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma and attorney Hafeel Farisz. They are expected to meet the two Saudi law firms handling Anojan’s case, finalise the appeal documents and meet Saudi officials.

A parliamentary delegation is also expected to travel to Saudi Arabia carrying a clemency appeal from President Dissanayake. Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has said the Sri Lankan government will bear the legal costs.

The case has renewed concerns over severe punishment for online speech in Saudi Arabia. Human rights organisations have previously highlighted cases involving social-media comments, including that of Saudi retired teacher Mohammed Al Ghamdi, who was sentenced to death in 2023 before the sentence was later overturned and replaced with a 30-year prison term.

Executions for blasphemy are relatively rare in Saudi Arabia compared with those for crimes such as murder and drug offences. But for Anojan’s family, the broader debate over Saudi law has become personal.

Their son left Sri Lanka as a migrant worker. A few words typed during an online religious argument followed him across borders, into a Saudi courtroom and eventually onto death row.

Now, as Sri Lankan lawyers prepare another appeal and diplomats seek clemency, his family is left waiting for a call from Anojan.

And his mother’s plea remains simple — that her son be forgiven and allowed to return home.