20 years, Rs 34 crore blood money, 1 prayer answered: Kerala man on Saudi death row returns home on Bakrid
KOZHIKODE: Feroke native Abdul Rahim who had spent 20 years behind bars in a Saudi prison and for whose release Malayalees had raised Rs 47 crore through crowd funding in 2024 came back home on an emotional homecoming on Eid Al Adha day on Thursday.
The return of Rahim- who was sentenced to death by Saudi court after he was arrested in connection with the death of the differently abled son of his Saudi sponsor- had once seemed an impossible dream turned out to be a moment of overwhelming hoy for his family and for lakhs of Malayalis who had stood with him through his darkest days,.
Rahim, who was released from Saudi jail after he completed 20 year prison term on May 20 arrived at Calicut International Airport in Air India Express flight at 7.35 am. He couldn't hold back tears and broke down while thanking people who had gathered to see him. People's representatives, office bearers of Abdul Rahim Legal Aid committee and a large number of people had gathered at the airport to receive him.
At his modest home Zeeyath Manzil at Kuttampuzha near Feroke, emotions overflowed as Rahim stepped back into the embrace of the family after a gap of 20 years.
His mother Fathima, who had spent every Eid over the past 20 years praying for her son’s return, finally saw her prayers answered on a Bakrid day. As Rahim arrived, Fathima broke down in tears, holding close the son she had feared she might never see again. Around her stood hundreds of people- neighbours, relatives, well-wishers and strangers who had become part of Rahim’s journey- all waiting to welcome him home. Many had come home to the house straight after the Eid prayers in local mosques.
"My heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported me and prayed for me," said an emotional Abdul Rahim.
Fathima said that it was for this day that she had been praying for during the last 20 years. "I have been praying for just one thing and today Allah reunited my son with me on this Eid," she said.
It was the culmination of an extraordinary collective effort by Malayalis across the world. From daily wage workers to expatriates, from schoolchildren to businessmen, people had contributed wholeheartedly to save a man they knew only through his story.
The campaign had eventually raised Rs 47 crore, including the Rs 34 crore blood money that paved the way for his release from death row in Saudi Arabia.
Rahim had left for Saudi Arabia at the age of 26 after quitting his driver’s job in Kerala, hoping to build a better future for his family. However, his life took a tragic turn when he accidentally touched a medical support device attached to the differently abled son of his Saudi national Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri. The child died, leading to Rahim’s arrest in 2006.
While serving a prison term, a Riyadh court sentenced him to death in 2012. His case later drew widespread public attention in Kerala. Rahim’s case eventually moved thousands across Kerala In April 2024 as the Abdul Rahim Legal Aid Committee launched one of the largest public fundraising campaigns seen in the state to save him from execution leading to the collection of Rs 47 crore.
Initially sentenced to death, Rahim’s release became possible after Keralites across the world raised money for the payment of Rs 34 crore as ‘blood money’ in a campaign which was incidentally launched in the Ramadan month of 2024.
Saudi court had in July 2024 revoked Rahim’s death sentence as the victim’s family decided to grant him pardon after accepting blood money.
However, the Riyadh court had in May last year sentenced Rahim to 20 years’ imprisonment under the Public Rights Act, the term of which will end this week.
Rahim’s 20-year prison term had ended on May 20. The exit formalities were expedited through the efforts of Riyadh Legal Aid Committee and Indian embassy authorities.
Rahim's mother Fathima prepared his favorite Malabar delicacies for Eid. She had visited Abdul Rahim in Saudi jail in 2024.
The return of Rahim- who was sentenced to death by Saudi court after he was arrested in connection with the death of the differently abled son of his Saudi sponsor- had once seemed an impossible dream turned out to be a moment of overwhelming hoy for his family and for lakhs of Malayalis who had stood with him through his darkest days,.
Rahim, who was released from Saudi jail after he completed 20 year prison term on May 20 arrived at Calicut International Airport in Air India Express flight at 7.35 am. He couldn't hold back tears and broke down while thanking people who had gathered to see him. People's representatives, office bearers of Abdul Rahim Legal Aid committee and a large number of people had gathered at the airport to receive him.
At his modest home Zeeyath Manzil at Kuttampuzha near Feroke, emotions overflowed as Rahim stepped back into the embrace of the family after a gap of 20 years.
His mother Fathima, who had spent every Eid over the past 20 years praying for her son’s return, finally saw her prayers answered on a Bakrid day. As Rahim arrived, Fathima broke down in tears, holding close the son she had feared she might never see again. Around her stood hundreds of people- neighbours, relatives, well-wishers and strangers who had become part of Rahim’s journey- all waiting to welcome him home. Many had come home to the house straight after the Eid prayers in local mosques.
"My heartfelt thanks to all those who have supported me and prayed for me," said an emotional Abdul Rahim.
Fathima said that it was for this day that she had been praying for during the last 20 years. "I have been praying for just one thing and today Allah reunited my son with me on this Eid," she said.
It was the culmination of an extraordinary collective effort by Malayalis across the world. From daily wage workers to expatriates, from schoolchildren to businessmen, people had contributed wholeheartedly to save a man they knew only through his story.
The campaign had eventually raised Rs 47 crore, including the Rs 34 crore blood money that paved the way for his release from death row in Saudi Arabia.
Rahim had left for Saudi Arabia at the age of 26 after quitting his driver’s job in Kerala, hoping to build a better future for his family. However, his life took a tragic turn when he accidentally touched a medical support device attached to the differently abled son of his Saudi national Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri. The child died, leading to Rahim’s arrest in 2006.
While serving a prison term, a Riyadh court sentenced him to death in 2012. His case later drew widespread public attention in Kerala. Rahim’s case eventually moved thousands across Kerala In April 2024 as the Abdul Rahim Legal Aid Committee launched one of the largest public fundraising campaigns seen in the state to save him from execution leading to the collection of Rs 47 crore.
Initially sentenced to death, Rahim’s release became possible after Keralites across the world raised money for the payment of Rs 34 crore as ‘blood money’ in a campaign which was incidentally launched in the Ramadan month of 2024.
Saudi court had in July 2024 revoked Rahim’s death sentence as the victim’s family decided to grant him pardon after accepting blood money.
However, the Riyadh court had in May last year sentenced Rahim to 20 years’ imprisonment under the Public Rights Act, the term of which will end this week.
Rahim’s 20-year prison term had ended on May 20. The exit formalities were expedited through the efforts of Riyadh Legal Aid Committee and Indian embassy authorities.
Rahim's mother Fathima prepared his favorite Malabar delicacies for Eid. She had visited Abdul Rahim in Saudi jail in 2024.
Next Story