Indian national Abdul Rahim, who spent nearly two decades in prison in Saudi Arabia in a high-profile case that drew widespread attention from the Indian diaspora, is finally returning home to Kerala after being released from jail.
Rahim, a native of Ramanattukara in Kozhikode district, left Saudi Arabia for India earlier today, marking the end of a long legal and emotional ordeal for his family. The Indian Embassy confirmed that Rahim, who had once faced a death sentence, was pardoned and released after serving a 20-year prison term under Saudi law.
Rahim had been convicted in connection with the death of a 15-year-old Saudi boy with disabilities, in what was described as an accidental incident. The case triggered a massive support campaign among expatriate Indians, especially the Malayali community in Saudi Arabia.
A large-scale crowdfunding effort led by the Indian community helped raise around 15 million Saudi Riyals – more than 34 crore rupees – as blood money to secure relief from the death sentence. Despite the settlement, Rahim was required to complete a lengthy prison sentence before his release.
In a statement, the Indian Embassy said it had consistently pursued the case with Saudi authorities and regularly monitored Rahim’s well-being throughout his imprisonment. The Embassy also thanked Saudi authorities for their cooperation and expressed gratitude to the Indian community for its “unwavering support, solidarity and faith in the judicial process.”
