{
  "id": 14606729,
  "title": "Saudi Arabia overturns death sentence for man over Facebook comment, Sri Lanka says",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/saudi-arabia-overturns-death-sentence-for-man-over-facebook-comment",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T02:24:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/saudi-arabia-overturns-death-sentence-for-man-over-facebook-comment-sri-lanka-says/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lankan migrant worker Anojan Sivarasa had his death sentence overturned by Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra. The 27-year-old was initially convicted of blasphemy against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad after making a comment on Facebook. The case sparked international outrage and diplomatic efforts to seek clemency for the migrant worker. Sivarasa was arrested in July following the posting of a controversial comment, which was captured on social media and led to his indictment. Despite deleting the comment and posting an apology video, Sivarasa faced severe consequences, including a five-year prison sentence and a fine of three million Saudi riyals. The incident occurred after a video of a young Muslim man mistreating a dog while passing by Hindu pilgrims went viral, igniting religious debates online. Sivarasa's lawyer and Sri Lankan lawmakers confirmed the overturning of the death sentence, but it remains unclear if further legal proceedings will take place or if Sivarasa will remain detained.",
  "summary": "Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has set aside the death sentence handed to a Sri Lankan migrant worker over a comment he made on Facebook, Colombo's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra said.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}