The National Shoora Council (NSC) has submitted a humanitarian appeal to the King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia seeking royal clemency and compassionate consideration for Sri Lankan citizen Sivarasa Anujan, convicted and sentenced by a Saudi Court to five years of imprisonment and a financial fine of three million Saudi Riyals for publicizing contemptuous utterances insulting Holy Prophet Muhammed. Sentence is said to have been enhanced in appeal to a sentence of death on Anujan, yet to be confirmed.

The NSC is a home-grown and apolitical umbrella organization representing 14 national-level Muslim organizations in Sri Lanka

The appeal states that ‘while reaffirming respect for the sovereignty, laws, and judicial institutions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’, the NSC has clarified that this appeal ‘does not contest or question the ruling of the competent judicial authorities. Instead, it is submitted strictly on humanitarian grounds, urging consideration of Mr. Anujan’s personal, financial, and family circumstances’.

The appeal signed by NSC President M.M. Zuhair President’s Counsel and NSC General Secretary Rasheed M Imthiyas Attorney at Law highlights key humanitarian factors for the Saudi ruler’s consideration on an urgent basis.

* Sincere Remorse and Repentance: Mr. Anujan has publicly expressed deep regret and genuine repentance via social media, seeking forgiveness and reaffirming his respect for the universally recognized status of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and the religious sentiments of Muslims.

* Context of Provocation: The incident arose amid sudden emotional reactions to material circulating on social media following a recent Hindu religious procession in East Sri Lanka. “While not legitimising Anujan’s reactions, the NSC has pleaded for absolute clemency referring to this young man’s subsequent remorse and apology as critically important mitigating circumstances for granting clemency.

* Severe Economic Hardship: Mr. Anujan is a modest-income migrant technocrat employed in Saudi Arabia and supporting a large family in Sri Lanka from his Saudi earnings. His absence places severe financial strain on his dependents, and he lacks the financial capacity to pay the heavy fine, leaving an economically vulnerable family without livelihood.

* Disrupted Life Plans: Prior to his detention, Anujan was preparing to marry a young woman from a low-income family in his village later this year. His current imprisonment has created profound uncertainty and distress for both families.

* Promoting Coexistence and Goodwill: As an organisation dedicated to peaceful coexistence among Sri Lanka’s diverse Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities, the NSC believes that a compassionate resolution will bring immense relief, foster interfaith harmony, and further strengthen the longstanding bonds of friendship between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

NSC has forwarded copies of the appeal to Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake; Minister of Foreign Affairs Vijitha Herath, Mr. Yaser Bin Abdulrahman Al-Hazme, Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Colombo, Deputy Speaker of Sri Lanka Parliament Dr Rizvie Salih, Governor Haneef Yusuf and Deputy Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs Muneer Mulaffar.