The legal battle to save the life of Anojan Sivarasa, a Sri Lankan migrant worker
sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a social media post, has reached its most critical and final stage. According to an official statement issued by the media unit of former Minister and President's Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, alongside recent media reports, the special appeal to be filed before the Saudi Arabian Supreme Court has now been completely drafted.
The Severity of the Verdict and the Rigor of Sharia Law Anojan’s ordeal starkly illustrates the highly complex legal perils faced by migrant workers. During the initial trial, the Saudi High Court sentenced him to five years in prison. However, following an appeal by the Saudi public prosecution, the Appellate Court classified the social media post—deemed an insult to the Prophet Muhammad—as a severe "Hadd" offense (a crime considered to be against God) under Islamic Sharia law. Consequently, the lower court's ruling was overturned, and the death penalty was imposed.
Strategic Intervention by the Sri Lankan Legal Team The only remaining legal recourse to prevent the execution is to present the case before the Saudi Supreme Court. Typically, the Saudi Supreme Court does not retry cases on their factual merits, but rather focuses on legal and procedural errors committed in the lower courts. To navigate this complex legal framework, a delegation of eminent legal experts comprising Additional Solicitor General and President’s Counsel Azard Navavi, President’s Counsel Faiszer Musthapha, President’s Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, and Attorney-at-Law Hafeel Farisz traveled to Saudi Arabia. They collaborated closely with local defense counsel to prepare and finalize the legal submissions.
Legal Team Stranded in Riyadh Meanwhile, as reported by The Sunday Times today (11), the four-member Sri Lankan legal delegation, who were scheduled to return to the island after finalizing the appeal, are currently stranded in Riyadh. This follows the suspension of flights and the closure of the Riyadh airport due to missile and drone attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen. The appeal must be filed before the October 14 deadline. President's Counsel Azard Navavi noted that considering an overland route to a neighboring country was abandoned due to the extensive distance. However, he emphasized his strong confidence in the appeal, confirming that all necessary documentation has been successfully finalized.
Diplomatic and Financial Commitment It is highly unusual for the Sri Lankan government to intervene and provide state funding for a private legal matter. According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the appeal process alone costs approximately Rs. 6.6 million, with the government's total expenditure on this case currently nearing Rs. 9 million. This underscores the state's exceptional commitment to saving the young man's life. Parallel to the legal efforts, continuous diplomatic facilitation has been provided by Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, Consul General in Jeddah, Mohamed Laffar, and Silmy Riyasdeen. Notably, Ambassador Ajwad traveled roughly 450 kilometers from Riyadh to the Dammam Central Prison to personally inquire into Anojan's well-being.
This crisis, triggered by a migrant worker's lapse in judgment, is currently navigating a labyrinth of legal, diplomatic, and geopolitical challenges. The ultimate fate of the young Sri Lankan now rests entirely on the impending determination of the Saudi Supreme Court in the coming days.
