Sri Lanka’s former foreign minister Ali Sabry has expressed deep concern regarding the reported escalation of Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa’s five-year prison sentence to a death sentence in Saudi Arabia. 

He, however, noted that Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry has not confirmed the reported death sentence, and that the formal written judgment is awaited.

In a post on ‘X’, President’s Counsel Ali Sabry said that respect for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and legal system does not require silence in the face of disproportionate punishment. 

He said that while a five-year prison term for an offensive social media comment is already excessive, taking a human life for such an act would be “grossly disproportionate, inhumane and unacceptable.”

The former minister said reports that Anojan removed the comment in question within minutes and issued a public video apology deserve serious consideration and that an offensive remark should not extinguish a person’s opportunity to repent, learn and rebuild his life.

Sabry urged the Saudi authorities to show mercy and grant Anojan clemency while he also urged the Sri Lankan Government to secure effective legal assistance and pursue urgent diplomatic intervention at the highest level.

“Justice must leave room for compassion,” he said, adding that Anojan deserves the chance to return to his family and rebuild his life.