A major update has emerged in the case of the migrant worker facing the death sentence in Saudi Arabia over a deleted Facebook post.

Anojan Sivarasa, a 27-year-old from Kalmunai in Sri Lanka's eastern province, was sentenced to death in September after posting a comment about the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook.

He had been in Saudi Arabia for less than a year when he was arrested in July, prompting international concern over the severity of his punishment.

However, after weeks of diplomatic efforts and calls for his release, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has now overturned his death sentence.

A major update has emerged in the case of the migrant worker facing the death sentence in Saudi Arabia over a deleted Facebook post. Credit: Alan_Lagadu / Getty

Why was Sivarasa sentenced to death?

The ordeal began in June with a viral video on the platform that showed an alleged Muslim man kicking a stray dog that had accompanied some Hindu pilgrims.

During an online debate, a user posted derogatory remarks about a Hindu deity, leading Sivarasa to respond in Tamil, insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

Sivarasa later deleted his post and shared an apology video, but screenshots were sent to his employer and passed on to Saudi police, which led to his arrest in July.

His personal devices were later seized, and his social media accounts were deleted by authorities.

According to the BBC, the migrant worker was initially sentenced to five years in prison and was also given a fine of 3m Saudi riyals (about $792,980) by the Al-Ahsa Criminal Court.

However, the case took a turn on September 17 after Saudi prosecutors appealed for Sivarasa to be prosecuted under Sharia law. The appellate court granted the request and increased his sentence to the death penalty.

The decision sent shockwaves through Sri Lanka and beyond, with international rights groups joining calls for Saudi Arabia to spare his life.

Amnesty International urged Saudi police to release the 27-year-old "immediately and unconditionally".

"The case raises alarming concerns about the application of the death penalty and the arbitrariness of the Saudi criminal justice system, with his initial sentence of five years transformed into a death sentence less than two months later on appeal," regional director Heba Morayef said.

"Anojan Sivarasa was exercising his right to freedom of expression, and his execution would amount to arbitrary deprivation of life," she added.

Joey Shea, a senior Saudi Arabian researcher at Human Rights Watch, also condemned the punishment.

"Saudi authorities should end their use of abusive laws to hand out extraordinary sentences for speech-related offenses, especially against migrant workers who are already in a vulnerable position with limited protection," Shea said.

Saudi Arabia overturns the death penalty

On Wednesday (October 14), Saudi Arabia's top court overturned the death sentence.

Colombo's Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Hemachandra revealed the news in a post on Facebook, where he expressed gratitude to the authorities and legal teams from both countries for their efforts.

However, it remains unclear whether there will be further legal proceedings or how long Sivarasa will remain in detention.

Saudi Arabia has been identified as one of the world's leading executioners. In 2025 alone, the nation has carried out at least 356 executions, the highest on record and up from 345 in 2024, per The Independent.

Featured image credit: Alan_Lagadu / Getty

A Pennsylvania woman accused of fatally stabbing her husband and their three-year-old son at a Poconos resort drained her husband's 401(k) account prior to the trip, according to family members.

Metallica Rose Harrison, 27, allegedly tapped her husband Charles Harrison's retirement account to pay for a three-week stay at the Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, Pennsylvania, as well as a kitchen remodel and other personal expenses.

The family initially checked into the resort on September 21 and extended their stay on October 5. Relatives noticed the sudden financial move, though they did not anticipate the violence that would follow.

Stepmother April Thetga noted that while the family found taking funds out of the retirement account strange, they did not suspect anything was wrong at the time.

Just hours before police discovered the bodies, Harrison held a cheerful video call with her family. Relatives described the household as a loving one, noting that Charles was a devoted father and husband who rarely lost his temper. The abrupt shift from family vacation to crime scene left relatives searching for answers.

Metallica Rose Harrison and husband Charles Harrison with their son. Credit: Chaz Harrison/Facebook

Unusual financial moves before the resort trip

According to Thetga, Harrison accessed the retirement account to fund what was meant to be an early Christmas gift for her toddler son, Tristan. "It was definitely odd, but they’d taken their 401(k) out … There was nothing we could do about that," Thetga told The New York Post.

She added that family members were unsure whether the couple had taken a loan against the retirement account or withdrawn the funds entirely.

Despite the unexpected withdrawal, family members saw no warning signs during their final conversation. "She had called and we’re video chatting, and then she says she loved us very much, just like she normally would," Thetga recalled.

Referring to Charles, Thetga noted, "He was a fantastic husband. She definitely got lucky when it came to him. He just was good. He was a good father. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him fight."

Metallica Harrison allegedly killed her husband and son on a family vacation. Credit: Chaz Harrison/Facebook

Chilling statements made after emergency response

Police officers responded to Room 2030 at the Great Wolf Lodge shortly after 3:00PM on Monday after Harrison placed a call to 911 asking for assistance ending her own life.

Inside the room, investigators located Charles Harrison and three-year-old Tristan dead on mattresses in the living room, both suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Authorities recovered a butcher knife on the bathroom floor, a smaller knife in the sink, several containers of blood, and multiple bottles of medication.

According to an affidavit obtained by WNEP, Harrison made direct admissions regarding her family during the emergency call. "My husband and son are already gone in the bed in the living room. They’re already gone, I’m sorry," Metallica Rose told the 911 operator.

When officers arrived at the scene, she informed them that she was "suicidal, not stupid" after asking for assistance locating a vein in her neck.

While receiving care from emergency medical staff, she continued making statements regarding her intentions and family life. "Every day I work so hard," Metallica Rose told EMS as they treated her. "To be the best person, the best mother, the best wife. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. I was supposed to have my happy family. That’s what I envisioned since I was a child."

Inside the ambulance, Harrison repeatedly stated that she was "not supposed to be here," according to the affidavit. She inquired with medical personnel about the depth of her wrist veins for "next time" and expressed frustration that her blood was clotting despite taking blood-thinning medication.

Harrison was transported to a medical facility in Stroudsburg for treatment of cuts to her left wrist and puncture wounds to her neck before being taken into police custody.

Featured image credit: Chaz Harrison/Facebook

The mom accused of killing her husband and son whilst on a family vacation ranted to police when they found her covered in blood.

Metallica Rose Harrison, 27, called 911 herself to allegedly admit to murdering her husband, Charles, and their three-year-old son.

The incident occurred when the family were staying at the Great Wolf Lodge, a resort in Poconos, Pennsylvania.

As of the time of writing, she remains in custody.

Mom said "it wasn't supposed to end like this" when cops found her

According to an affidavit obtained by WNEP, Harrison called 911 on Monday night, where she allegedly admitted to the killing of her husband and son, whose name is identified only by the initials T.H.

"My husband and son are already gone in the bed in the living room," she told the 911 operator. "They’re already gone, I’m sorry."

Officers who attended the scene then found the pair with multiple stab wounds to the chest.

When cops arrived, Harrison asked them to find a vein to stab in her neck - but told them she was "suicidal, not stupid."

As she was treated, Harrison told EMS that "Every day I work so hard. To be the best person, the best mother, the best wife."

She continued: "It wasn't supposed to end like this. I was supposed to have my happy family. That’s what I envisioned since I was a child."

Metallica Harrison allegedly killed her husband and son on a family vacation. Credit: Chaz Harrison/Facebook

Grisly details of crime scene as mom arrested for double homicide

As medical personnel took her to the hospital, the affidavit says that while in the ambulance, Harrison admitted that, "I'm not supposed to be here."

Harrison lived around 2 hours away from the hotel where she was found, and lamented that her blood had clotted despite her taking blood thinners.

After her 911 call, cops entered Room 2030 at the hotel and found Harrison's husband and child dead on mattresses, with multiple stab wounds to their chests.

According to police at the scene, a butcher knife was found on the bathroom floor and a smaller knife was discovered in the bathroom sink.

They also uncovered several containers suspected to contain blood and multiple bottles of medication.

The family had originally arrived at the Great Wolf Lodge on September 21, and had extended their original reservation until October 5.

Following the incident, Metallica Rose Harrison was taken to hospital to treat cuts to her left wrist and superficial puncture wounds on her neck. She remains in police custody.

Featured image credit: Chaz Harrison/Facebook

Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis gave a brief statement after being sentenced for his role in the murder of Tupac Shakur.

One of the music world’s highest-profile cases of the past 50 years has seen a conviction today, but the conclusion remains in the distance.

Duane ‘Keffe D’ David made a defiant statement in court

63-year-old Davis made a defiant statement as his 40-year sentence was handed down, following a jury finding him guilty of one count of murder back in September.

That count refers to the murder of rap superstar Tupac Shakur, who was shot dead during a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in September 1996.

The case took 30 full years to resolve, and looks set to continue even longer.

Prosecutors had argued that while Davis did not fire the bullet that killed Shakur, he was at the head of the group that committed his murder and had admitted that he gave the gun that fired that round.

Credit: Raymond Boyd/Getty

Evidence in the trial focused on Davis’ own memoir, as well as admissions he made to law enforcement during another case regarding the death of Christopher Wallace, better known as Notorious B.I.G.

When his sentence was read to him, the judge enquired if Davis had any response.

He said: "I'm good. I'm gonna appeal this case for sure.”

Before that, Judge Carli Kierny had told him: "You don't get to take a man from his family.

"You don't get to take his very life, his whole future from him, and just walk away from it. "Especially when that man is Tupac Shakur. The world never forgot about him and his death.”

Tupac Shakur’s brother and sister said their own words

Addressing the court, Tupac’s sister Sekyiwa Shakur said: "The loss of Tupac, for a long time, crippled my family."

"He had so much promise, intentions for a better world.”

His brother Maurice added that he wanted to see Davis receive ‘the longest possible sentence’.

Duane Davis spoke out in court. Credit: Sam Morris-Pool/Getty

The evidence that convicted Tupac Shakur killing ringleader

Davis’ own words were used against him in the court of law, as he repeatedly said that he was in the car that the shots were fired from.

He also admitted in 2008 to police that he had been involved during the investigation into Biggie’s murder months after that of Shakur.

In his own memoir Compton Street Legend, he spoke again about his involvement, although that voided the protective agreement he had with the police to avoid future criminal charges.

At the time of his death, Shakur was just 25 years old and had the music world at his feet.

Prosecutors made the case that while Davis had not fired the shot that killed him, as a South Side Comptom Crips leader, he ordered the shooting and gave the gun to his nephew Orlando Anderson, who carried out the killing.

Anderson died in a shooting himself in 1998, having previously denied involvement.

Featured image credit: Sam Morris-Pool/Getty