Offensive comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. Allegations were made against Sri Lankan Hindu migrant worker Anujan Shivrasa. The Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia initially imposed the death penalty in this case. However, the Sri Lankan government's diplomatic and legal steps worked. The Saudi Supreme Court rejected the death sentence.
Sri Lanka's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Overseas Employment and Tourism said that the Saudi court ordered the death penalty on October 13. However, after Colombo's initiative, the Supreme Court of the Middle East dismissed the directive on October 14. It is known that the 24-year-old Shivrasa made controversial comments in Sri Lanka at the end of June last year centered on a Hindu pilgrimage. A video footage circulated on social media at the time showed a Muslim youth kicking a dog that was following Hindu pilgrims. This incident sparked heated debate.
A man made 'derogatory' comments about Hindu gods during an online debate. Shivrasa is accused of making an offensive comment in Tamil in response to this. However, he later deleted the controversial comment. released an apology video. Shivrasa deleted the comment but its screenshot went viral on social media. The matter did not end here. Some people from Sri Lanka mailed Shivrasa's employer in Saudi Arabia and told the whole incident. Soon after the youth was arrested and all his gadgets were confiscated, his social media accounts were also deleted.
On July 15, the Al Ahsa Criminal Court sentenced Shivrasa to five years in prison and fined $8 million. Later the death penalty was ordered. The Sri Lankan government was shaken after the matter came to light in the media. After several diplomatic and legal steps, on October 14, the Saudi Supreme Court rejected the death sentence order of Anojan Shivrasa.