Kozhikode/Riyadh: After a grueling 20 years in prison, Abdul Rahim has finally returned to his homeland, enveloped in the prayers and love of millions of Malayalis worldwide. Rahim landed at the Kozhikode International Airport at a deeply emotional moment, just as Kerala was immersed in the joyful celebrations of Eid al-Adha. His return marks the heartwarming culmination of a two-decade-long, tearful wait for his 80-year-old mother, Fathima, and the countless individuals across the globe who prayed for him.
Abdul Rahim, a native of Kodampuzha in Kozhikode who was imprisoned in Riyadh for the death of a Saudi teenager, owes his freedom to a historic display of unity by the expatriate community. Equally crucial was the immense magnanimity of the Saudi family, who looked beyond retribution to show an exemplary act of forgiveness and mercy, ultimately granting a fellow human being a second lease on life.
The blood money (Diyyah) of 15 million Saudi Riyals demanded by the deceased Saudi boy Anas Al-Shahri’s family had previously been transferred to the Riyadh Criminal Court through the Indian Embassy. Following the completion of his sentence last Thursday and the clearance of all legal hurdles—including his final exit visa—the path was cleared for Rahim’s long-awaited return home.
A Fateful Moment That Altered a Life
Abdul Rahim arrived in Riyadh on November 18, 2006, on a house driver visa. His primary responsibility was caring for 18-year-old Anas Al-Shahri, who had been paralyzed from the neck down following a car accident and was dependent on life-support medical equipment. However, barely a month into his job, on December 24, 2006, a tragic incident turned his life upside down.
According to Rahim, he was out driving with Anas when they stopped at a traffic signal. Anas allegedly demanded that Rahim drive through the red light. When Rahim refused, an enraged Anas threw a tantrum and spat on his face. Rahim explains that when he raised his hand to protect himself, his hand accidentally struck the medical apparatus attached to Anas’s body. Anas instantly lost consciousness and later passed away. Rahim was arrested the following day, on December 25, 2006.
The Death Penalty and a Long Legal Battle
Initially unknown to the outside world, the case came to light when Riyadh-based journalists Shakeeb Kolakkadan and Najeem Kochukalungil discovered Rahim’s plight during a routine prison visit. Following this, an all-party legal aid committee was formed under the leadership of the prominent expat organization, KMCC. The proactive and visionary intervention of Yousef Kakkancheri, a Malayali official in the Indian Embassy’s welfare wing, alongside embassy lawyer Abu Misfar, proved turning points in the case.
In February 2011, the Riyadh Public Court sentenced Rahim to death. What followed was a relentless legal battle. Though a special bench commuted the death sentence in 2017, the Saudi family appealed, leading courts to reaffirm the death penalty in 2019 and 2021. With this, all legal hopes seemed completely exhausted. Meanwhile, settlement talks hit a major roadblock in 2013 when Anas’s father, who was open to mediation, died in a road accident. Following his death, Anas’s mother took over the case and firmly stood by her demand for the death penalty.
A Miracle of Kerala’s Global Unity
With the final verdict looming, the global Malayali community united as one to save Rahim’s life. Following marathon negotiations led by lawyers Abu Anas and Mohammed Mubarak Al-Qahtani, the Saudi family finally agreed to pardon Rahim in exchange for a Diyyah (blood money) of 15 million Saudi Riyals.
A crowdfunding campaign was launched through a mobile application named ‘Save Abdul Rahim’. What followed was a modern-day miracle; driven by empathy, millions of Keralites worldwide contributed, raising the staggering amount within a few days. The money was subsequently deposited in court.
Even after the payout, extensive legal procedures had to be cleared. As the release process dragged on, Rahim’s mother, Fathima, traveled to Riyadh last year for an emotional jailhouse meeting with her son. Following that tearful reunion and the completion of all judicial formalities, Rahim finally stepped back onto his home soil today. Rahim’s release is being hailed as a historic victory, showcasing the profound mercy of Saudi Arabia and the unparalleled solidarity of the global Malayali community.
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