No one should be executed for ‘blasphemy’
A 24 year old Sri Lankan migrant worker has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over a comment he posted on Facebook. Add your name and call on the UK Government to act urgently to help save Anojan Sivarasa’s life – and stand against blasphemy laws worldwide.
Sentenced to death for a Facebook comment
Anojan Sivarasa was working in Saudi Arabia when he became involved in a religious argument on Facebook. After another user made derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, Anojan responded with a comment insulting the Prophet Muhammad.
He quickly deleted the comment and apologised. But a screenshot was sent to his employer and the Saudi authorities, and he was arrested.
Anojan was initially sentenced to five years in prison and given a huge fine. Prosecutors appealed – and an appellate court increased his sentence to death.
No one should lose their life because somebody found their words offensive.
His family have not heard from him since 26 September, and Saudi authorities have announced no execution date.
Blasphemy laws violate fundamental freedoms
Everyone has the right to freedom of religion or belief – including the freedom to question, criticise, change, or reject religious beliefs.
Blasphemy laws violate that fundamental freedom. They give religious ideas protection from criticism and allow people to be imprisoned, persecuted, and even killed simply for expressing an opinion.
Whatever someone’s religion or belief, no one should face punishment for expressing their views about religion.
The UK Government must act
Humanists UK will write to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. We will urge the UK Government to use all diplomatic levers to raise this case and call on the Saudi authorities to overturn his death sentence.
We will also urge the Government to use its diplomatic influence to press Saudi Arabia – and governments around the world – to repeal blasphemy laws and uphold freedom of religion or belief for all.
Add your name
No one should face execution for something they said about religion.
Add your name and call on the Foreign Secretary to act urgently to help save Anojan Sivarasa’s life – and to stand against blasphemy laws wherever they are used to silence and persecute people.
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