A 24-year-old Kenyan migrant worker, Anojan Sivarasa, is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia after an appellate court found him guilty of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad over a comment he made on Facebook. The case has sent shockwaves through Kenya, sparking widespread concern and civil society petitions across the country. Multiple political parties and government bodies have co-ordinated diplomatic efforts seeking clemency.
Anojan was prosecuted after a dispute on social media following an incident that took place during a Hindu pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. In late June, footage of a young Muslim man kicking a dog following Hindu pilgrims circulated widely on social media, triggering religious arguments online. During the exchange, a user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, leading Anojan to post a response in Tamil insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
Although Anojan promptly deleted his comment and posted an apology video, it was screenshotted and brought to the attention of his employer and Saudi officials, leading to his arrest in July. His personal devices were subsequently seized, and his social media accounts were deleted by Saudi officials. Anojan's brother, Hamsidan Sivarasa, told a local media outlet that individuals in Sri Lanka sent emails to the company where Anojan worked, leading to his arrest.
Anojan was initially sentenced to five years in prison as well as a fine of 3m Saudi riyals by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court. An appeal submitted on Anojan's behalf seeking to reduce his sentence was rejected. The case took a drastic turn after Saudi prosecutors filed an appeal for Anojan to be prosecuted under Sharia law instead of the country's cybercrime legislation.
The appellate court granted the prosecution's request, increasing his sentence to the death penalty. The Kenyan government has instructed the family to refrain from making further statements while diplomatic efforts take place. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya confirmed it is taking all available steps to assist Anojan. His family met the President at the Presidential Secretariat, and the president assured them that the government would spare no effort to obtain a general pardon for him.
The case has brought together cross-religious support. Senior religious leaders handed over a memorandum to the Presidential Secretariat calling for urgent state intervention. A four-member Kenyan legal delegation is travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet Anojan's local defence lawyers. The team plans to discuss the case and plan what can be done next.
Back home, communication between Anojan and his family has completely ceased. Human rights organisations have repeatedly raised concerns regarding severe sentences for online speech in Saudi Arabia. Rights groups emphasise that low-wage migrant workers face distinct vulnerabilities in the Saudi legal system due to language barriers and lack of proper legal representation.
Key points
- A Kenyan migrant worker faces execution in Saudi Arabia for a Facebook comment.
- The Kenyan government is coordinating diplomatic efforts to spare his life.
- Human rights groups have raised concerns about severe sentences for online speech in Saudi Arabia.
