Anoj​an Sivarasa’s Death Sentence Appeal to Be Filed Today in Saudi Arabia

COLOMBO (News1st): An appeal seeking to commute the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa is scheduled to be filed before the Saudi Supreme Court today.

An official delegation, comprising Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Asad Navavi, along with President’s Counsels Upul Kumarapperuma and Faiszer Musthapha, departed for Saudi Arabia on the 6th of October to discuss the matter with Saudi law firms.

The President’s Counsels held further discussions with Saudi law firms yesterday regarding the filing of the appeal.

If the appeal does not yield a favourable outcome, a petition is also expected to be submitted to the King of Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Chief Prelates of the Ramanya Maha Nikaya and the Amarapura Maha Nikaya recently handed over a memorandum to the President, requesting state intervention to secure Anojan Sivarasa’s release.

An​ojan was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court in Saudi Arabia to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi Riyals over a statement he made on social media.

However, after Anojan’s legal team appealed the sentence, Saudi legal authorities submitted a counter-request to the court. Following consideration of the appeals, the court subsequently imposed the death penalty.

Anoj​an Sivarasa, a resident of Natpiddimunai in Kalmunai, travelled to Saudi Arabia for employment nine months ago.