Five Media Organisations Issue Joint Appeal for Pardon for Anojan
24-Sep-2026.
Five media organisations have jointly appealed to the Saudi Arabian leadership to consider granting a pardon to Sri Lankan national Sivarasa Anojan and sparing his life, in accordance with the values of compassion taught by Islam.
They said such a compassionate act would be greatly appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka and would further strengthen the longstanding friendship and mutual respect between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
AnojAn, a Sri Lankan national, was sentenced by a Saudi Arabian court at the beginning of last month to five years' imprisonment and a fine over an allegation of blasphemy. Following his appeal, he has now reportedly been sentenced to death.
The appeal was jointly issued by the Free Media Movement, South Asian Women in Media, Sri Lanka Muslim Media Forum, Tamil Media Forum and Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association.
"We, as the organisations issuing this joint statement, respectfully appeal to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the leadership of Saudi Arabia to show compassion towards Sri Lankan citizen Sivarasa Anojan, grant him a pardon and spare his life," the organisations said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that it is closely monitoring Anojan's case and has taken steps through diplomatic channels to contact Saudi Arabian authorities and obtain all necessary assistance to ensure his welfare.
"While respecting the judicial process in this matter, we believe that it also has a deeply humanitarian dimension," the organisations said.
As media organisations representing Sri Lanka's multi-ethnic communities, including Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities, they reaffirmed their collective commitment to respecting all religions, promoting religious harmony, upholding responsible freedom of expression and ensuring peaceful coexistence.
They also noted that compassion, forgiveness and repentance occupy a highly valued place in Islam.
"On this basis, we respectfully place this humanitarian appeal before you and request that consideration be given to granting Sivarasa Anojan a pardon and sparing his life," the organisations said.
They added that such an act of compassion would be greatly appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka and would further strengthen the longstanding friendship and mutual respect between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.
The joint statement also urged the Sri Lankan Government to continue its diplomatic efforts and pursue all possible legal and humanitarian measures to reach an amicable resolution to the matter.
