Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 24 (ANI): The Hindu Munnani on Wednesday petitioned the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission at Nungambakkam in Chennai, seeking intervention to save a Sri Lankan Tamil worker who has been awarded a death sentence in Saudi Arabia over alleged remarks against Islam.
The organisation also sought the intervention of the Indian government in the matter.
The worker has been identified as Sivarasa Anojan, alias Sivarajan Anojan, from Narpittimunai in Kalmunai in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. He is facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia over a Facebook comment deemed derogatory towards Islam and Prophet Muhammad, after the Saudi prosecution successfully appealed against his original sentence.
Anojan was sentenced on July 15 by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment and a fine of three million Saudi Riyals, the maximum punishment available under the first paragraph of Article 6 of Saudi Arabia's Anti-Cyber Crime Law. The five-year sentence was enhanced to a death sentence by the top court in Saudi Arabia about three days ago.
Members of the Hindu Munnani submitted a petition at the Deputy High Commission office at Nungambakkam seeking revocation of the sentence.
Later, speaking to reporters, Hindu Munnani State Spokesperson A.T. Elangovan said, "We are going to meet the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner and submit a petition. 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. Despite that, he was sentenced to imprisonment with a fine of Rs 7 crore. Later, the higher court awarded death sentence and a fine of Rs 10 crore. The sentence should be stayed."
He added that not only the Sri Lankan envoy but also the Indian Prime Minister should take up the issue.
"Is such a huge punishment for something written on Facebook? This must be stopped," he said. (ANI)
Hindu Munnani seeks centre's intervention to save Sri Lankan Tamil facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia
