Humble Petition for Royal Clemency and Pardon

In the Matter of Anojan Sivarasa (also known as Sivarasa Anojan)

Your Majesty,

With the deepest respect and humility, we, the undersigned petitioners, most respectfully approach Your Majesty to seek Your gracious intervention and the granting of a full Royal Pardon in favour of Anojan Sivarasa (also referred to as Sivarasa Anojan), a 24-year-old Sri Lankan national and migrant worker currently facing a death sentence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Anojan Sivarasa, a young man from Natpiddimunai, Kalmunai, in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, travelled to the Kingdom in September 2025 seeking honest employment to support his family. He was initially sentenced by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of three million Saudi Riyals under the Anti-Cyber Crime Law in connection with a Facebook comment. Subsequently, following an appeal by the prosecution, an appellate court imposed the death penalty after the case was considered under Sharia law on charges of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

We acknowledge with profound respect the sacred laws and values of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the seriousness with which offences against religion are treated. We also note that Anojan Sivarasa deleted the offending comment and publicly apologised through a video message shortly after the incident. He has expressed deep remorse.

Your Majesty is renowned throughout the world for Your wisdom, compassion, and the exercise of merciful clemency in appropriate cases. We most humbly submit that the circumstances of this young migrant worker – his youth, his status as a foreign guest worker, his subsequent apology and deletion of the post, and the devastating impact upon his family – make this a case deserving of Your Majesty’s boundless mercy.

Anojan’s mother, Rasamanickam Yogalakshmi, and his family have made desperate pleas for his life. He is the eldest son and a vital support for his household. The Government of Sri Lanka has also been actively engaged through diplomatic channels and has indicated its intention to seek Your Majesty’s clemency.

In the name of humanity, compassion, and the noble tradition of royal mercy that has long characterised the House of Saud, we respectfully and earnestly beseech Your Majesty to grant a full and unconditional Royal Pardon to Anojan Sivarasa, commute the death sentence, and allow him to return safely to his family in Sri Lanka.

May Allah (SWT) continue to bless Your Majesty with long life, wisdom, and strength in the service of the Kingdom and the Muslim Ummah.

We remain, with the highest respect and gratitude,