The National Shoora Council (NSC) of Sri Lanka has appealed to Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to consider granting royal clemency to Sri Lankan citizen Sivarasa Anujan.
In a letter dated September 19, the NSC said Anujan was convicted in a case concerning alleged disrespect towards Prophet Muhammad and was sentenced to five years in prison and fined three million Saudi Riyals.
The council stressed that its appeal was made purely on humanitarian grounds and was not intended to challenge the judgment of Saudi judicial authorities or the country’s legal process.
According to the NSC, Anujan has expressed remorse over his conduct and publicly apologised through social media, while reaffirming his respect for the religious sentiments of Muslims.
The council also highlighted his personal and family circumstances, stating that Anujan is a modest-income Sri Lankan worker supporting a large family and has limited financial capacity to pay the imposed fine.
The NSC further said Anujan had been preparing to marry later this year, and that his current circumstances have created hardship and uncertainty for both families.
The council appealed for compassionate consideration of his case, saying such clemency would provide relief to his family and be welcomed with gratitude by many Sri Lankans.
It also said a compassionate resolution could further strengthen the longstanding relations and friendship between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
