Nasheed pledges support for condemned Sri Lankan Anojan Sivarasa

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has pledged full support for international advocacy efforts to prevent the execution of Sri Lankan national Anojan Sivarasa, who has been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia. The commitment came during a meeting in the Maldives on September 24 between Nasheed and a delegation of leading Sri Lankan legal experts.

The visiting delegation included President's Counsel Faiszer Musthapha and President's Counsel Upul Kumarapperuma, who travelled to the Maldives as part of a coordinated effort to mobilize regional support for Sivarasa's case. The meeting marked an initial phase in what is expected to be a broader diplomatic and legal initiative.

Nasheed, who has previously championed human rights causes throughout his political career, is among prominent regional figures being approached to assist in the campaign. The involvement of senior Sri Lankan legal professionals underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency with which authorities are pursuing alternative avenues to overturn the death sentence.

Sivarasa's case has drawn significant attention from human rights advocates and regional governments concerned about the circumstances surrounding his conviction and sentencing in Saudi Arabia. International pressure from neighbouring countries is viewed as a critical component of efforts to secure a reprieve or commutation of the sentence.