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| Tamil migrant worker Sivarasa Anojan was sentenced to death by a Saudi Court under charges of making insulting comments on Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. |
The Political Council of Tamil-Speaking People, representing six Tamil-speaking political parties, has appealed to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for urgent and compassionate assistance in seeking Royal Clemency for Sivarasa Anojan, a Sri Lankan youth currently held in prison in Saudi Arabia.
According to information learnt through national and social media reports in Sri Lanka and other sources, Anojan is facing a death sentence following the enhancement of his original sentence by the higher court which recently heard his appeal.
His original sentence imposed by the lower court was five years’ imprisonment and payment of a penalty, for an offence said to have been committed against religion.
The Political Council stated that it understands there is scope for a final appeal before the highest court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also noted that pursuing such an appeal would involve huge legal costs beyond the means of Anojan’s family, describing him as a migrant worker from the lowest social strata and an underprivileged background in Sri Lanka.
The appeal also calls upon the Government of Sri Lanka to place before Parliament and the public confirmed information relating to the case, including the nature of the offence, the legal and diplomatic approaches followed and Anojan’s current situation.
The representatives collectively vouched for Anojan’s innocence, or his consistent pro-peace profile and conduct. They stated that, as a migrant worker living far away from his family and community, he may have instantly reacted to an untoward situation that occurred in Sri Lanka.
Importantly, the appeal states that Anojan immediately retracted the comment made on Facebook, deleted it and offered an apology. The representatives affirmed that it was not in his character to have intentionally made the comment expecting to disrespect or offend Islam.
The appeal further highlights the longstanding cordial relationship between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia, noting that the people of Sri Lanka highly appreciate the assistance extended by Saudi Arabia towards the development of the country. It also refers to Saudi Arabia’s role in the Islamic world and expresses the belief that the Kingdom would consider the appeal with sympathy and compassion.
The Political Council has therefore respectfully appealed to the Saudi authorities to spare Anojan from any form of punishment and save his life, and has requested the Government of Saudi Arabia to grant him Royal Clemency, invoking the ideals of tolerance and empathy.
The communication was copied to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Acting Head of Mission of the Royal Saudi Arabian Embassy in Colombo, and the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Riyadh.
The six parties represented in the Political Council of Tamil-Speaking People, listed in alphabetical order, are: All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC), Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA), Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) and Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA).
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