Eric Steppa 🏛🏺🍷📚

HAF strongly opposes the death sentence imposed on Anojan Sivarasa, a 24-year-old Hindu and Sri Lankan national facing execution in Saudi Arabia over a social media comment deemed blasphemous. As HAF has long emphasized in its advocacy, blasphemy laws threaten religious freedom and have been used to justify unjust imprisonment and extrajudicial violence. No one should face execution for an expression of opinion, particularly in a case where the reported comment was deleted and an apology was issued. Protecting religious freedom means safeguarding the right of people of all faiths—and those of no faith—to express themselves without fear of state-sanctioned or extrajudicial violence. Blasphemy laws undermine these fundamental freedoms and deepen divisions between communities rather than foster mutual respect. HAF calls on Saudi authorities to overturn Sivarasa’s death sentence and ensure that his fundamental rights are protected. We urge the international community to continue pressing for the global repeal of blasphemy laws and for the protection of freedom of expression and conscience for all Respect for religious beliefs cannot be secured through fear, coercion, or the threat of death. amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2…