20 years on death row, Kerala man returns from Saudi Arabia as blood money is paid

Kerala native Abdul Rahim returned to his hometown on Eid after spending nearly 20 years on death row in a Saudi Arabian prison. He was pardoned following the payment of Rs 34 crore in blood money, which was raised through a crowdfunding campaign by Malayalis.

After the payment of Rs 34-crore blood money, Abdul Rahim, a native of Kodampuzha in Ramanattukara near Kozhikode, Kerala, returned home on Eid after spending nearly 20 years on death row in a Saudi Arabian prison. A driver by profession, Rahim had unintentionally touched a life-support system that resulted in the death of the son of his sponsor. He has been in Saudi Arabia for less than a month then.

He arrived at Kozhikode’s Karipur International Airport early Thursday morning, May 28, on an Air India flight from Riyadh and was warmly reunited with his family at their ancestral home in Machilakathu.

According to the official statement from the Embassy of India in Riyadh on Thursday, Abdul Raheem was pardoned and released after two decades in prison on May 20 this year. The Embassy noted that his flight to India had departed moments before the statement was issued.

The Embassy stated that it had consistently pursued his case with Saudi authorities and regularly monitored Rahim's well-being while he was in jail.

Rahim had travelled to Riyadh on November 28, 2006, seeking better opportunities after working as a school bus driver and autorickshaw driver in Kerala. He was assigned to assist his sponsor Fayis Abdullah Abdulrahman Al Shahri’s 17-year-old son, Anas Al Shahri, who was paralysed and dependent on a breathing apparatus.

WHY WAS ABDUL RAHIM SENTENCED TO DEATH?

According to a report by news agency ANI, on December 24, 2006, while Rahim was driving, his hand accidentally touched a medical support device attached to the boy. The teenager later became unconscious and died. Rahim was arrested the same day, just 28 days after arriving in Saudi Arabia, and eventually sentenced to death by a Saudi court in 2011.

The sentence was upheld in higher courts. After years of legal proceedings, the victim’s family in 2024 agreed to pardon Rahim upon receiving blood money (diyah) of 15 million Saudi riyals, approximately Rs 34.35 crore.

Diyah in Islamic law, is the financial compensation paid to the victim or heirs of a victim in cases of killing, bodily harm or property damage not done deliberately. It is a part of legal proceedings in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Following the settlement, the Saudi court revoked the death sentence on July 2, 2024. Saudi authorities, however, ordered that Rahim complete his 20-year jail term, which, according to the Arabic calendar, concluded on May 20.

HOW A MASSIVE CROWDFUNDING MOVEMENT SECURED ABDUL RAHIM'S RELEASE

Alongside expressing gratitude to the Saudi authorities for their cooperation, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh also appreciated the Indian community, particularly Malayali organisations, for their unwavering support, solidarity and faith in the judicial process.

The Malayali community in India and beyond played a crucial role in securing Abdul Rahim's release by securing the large sum needed to pay off the blood money.

The "Save Abdul Rahim" campaign turned into one of the largest public fundraising efforts in Kerala’s recent history. When Rahim’s family could not arrange the required amount, Malayali organisations in Saudi Arabia and support groups in Kerala launched coordinated efforts.

Contributions from people across the world, including ordinary workers and expatriates, exceeded Rs 47.87 crore between late March and April 12, 2024, through a dedicated mobile application, reported the news agency ANI.

According to ANI, more than 60 Malayali organisations in Saudi Arabia coordinated the legal battle for nearly two decades, while local committees in Kerala managed the fundraising and public campaign.

ABDUL RAHIM'S EMOTIONAL FAMILY REUNION

Upon reaching home on May 28, the day when Eid was being celebrated, Rahim fought back tears and thanked everyone who supported him.

"I thank all Keralites across the world who made my release a reality," The Indian Express reported him as saying. The case had been closely followed in Kerala for years.

For Rahim’s family, the two decades were extremely difficult. According to a report by The Indian Express, his father, Muhammedkutty, passed away six months after his arrest. His mother, Fathima, met him in person only once, in November 2024, after the pardon, with occasional video calls being the only form of contact during most of his imprisonment.

Rahim’s emotional homecoming on Eid brought relief and celebration to his family and the wider community that stood by him. The Embassy of India in Riyadh extended its warmest wishes to Abdul Raheem and his family for their reunion.

- Ends