A 24-year-old Sri Lankan man is facing execution in Saudi Arabia after an appeals court convicted him of blaspheming Islam and Muhammad over a comment he posted on Facebook.
Anujan Sivarasa posted the comment during an online argument over a video about a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka, according to reports. He made offensive remarks about Muhammad and Muslims after another user mocked a Hindu deity.
Sivarasa deleted the comment and later apologized, but a screenshot had already circulated online. The screenshot reached his employer in Saudi Arabia, who turned the matter over to authorities.
Sivarasa was arrested and his devices were confiscated. A court in Al-Ahsa initially sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of 3 million Saudi riyals, but after the prosecution appealed, his sentence was increased to death.
Sivarasa's family has appealed to Sri Lankan authorities for help in overturning the verdict.
