Amnesty International has called on Saudi authorities to urgently revoke the death sentence handed down to Anujan Sivaramasa, a 24-year-old Sri Lankan national convicted of blasphemy. The organization insists that the sentence must be annulled and Sivaramasa released immediately, arguing that his prosecution stems entirely from the exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
Sivaramasa was arrested on July 1, 2026, after posting a comment on Facebook that authorities considered offensive to the Prophet Muhammad. He told the court that the remark was made in a moment of anger, deleted shortly after, and followed by a video apology expressing remorse. Despite these actions, he faced a rapid judicial process. On July 27, 2026, the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals, approximately $800,000 USD, under Article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law. This represented the maximum penalty allowed under that statute.
Less than two months later, on September 17, 2026, the Eastern Region Appeals Court escalated the punishment to death, classifying it as a “hadd” penalty, which is mandatory under Islamic Sharia law. Sivaramasa had been denied access to legal counsel from the moment of his arrest until the initial verdict was issued. He intends to appeal the death sentence further.
Hiba Maarayef, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, stated that the case raises serious concerns regarding the arbitrary application of capital punishment within the Saudi criminal justice system. She emphasized that no one should be imprisoned or executed merely for expressing opinions, even if deemed insulting. Executing Sivaramasa would constitute an arbitrary deprivation of the right to life, she added.
The organization highlighted that international human rights law restricts the death penalty to the “most serious crimes,” interpreted as intentional homicide. However, Saudi authorities continue to impose capital punishment for non-violent offenses. As of October 5, 2026, at least 175 people had been executed this year, including many convicted of drug-related crimes. Foreign nationals make up the majority of those executed, with at least 94 individuals from over 20 countries put to death in 2026 alone.
Saudi Arabia lacks a codified penal code, leaving many crimes and penalties undefined by statute and subject to judicial discretion based on interpretations of Sharia. Authorities often rely on vague provisions in anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws, such as violations of “public order” or “religious values,” to criminalize free speech. Amnesty International urges the government to halt all executions and abolish the death penalty completely.
This report was produced by the HuMedia newsroom.
