The Hindu Munnani on Wednesday submitted a petition to the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam, Chennai, seeking intervention in the case of a Sri Lankan Tamil worker sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia over alleged remarks against Islam, news agency ANI reported.
Anojan was initially sentenced on July 15 by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years in prison and a fine of three million Saudi Riyals. The punishment was imposed under the first paragraph of Article 6 of Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law. Despite that, he was sentenced to imprisonment with a fine of ₹ 7 crore. Later, the higher court awarded death sentence and a fine of ₹ 10 crore.
Elangovan said, “We are going to meet the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and submit a petition. The Saudi prosecution later appealed against the sentence. About three days ago, the top court in Saudi Arabia enhanced the five-year prison term to a death sentence. Members of the Hindu Munnani submitted the petition at the Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam, seeking revocation of the sentence. Speaking to reporters later, Hindu Munnani State Spokesperson A.T. An Islamist in Sri Lanka had posted derogatory content against Lord Shiva on social media. In response, Anojan, who is a Tamil-speaking Sri Lankan, questioned it and the exchange continued. He raised a question about the Prophet. Someone complained to the Saudi government in Arabic about Anojan’s post. Anojan also tendered a public apology. The sentence should be stayed.”
