When Abdul Rahim arrived in Saudi Arabia in 2006, little did he anticipate that life could take a turn for the worse. Within weeks of reaching Saudi from his hometown Kozhikode, Rahim was arrested for allegedly being responsible for the death of a teenager, who lost his life when the life-support device got disconnected during a car journey.

Rahim maintained that the 15-year-old Saudi boy, for whom he was appointed as driver, died during car travel when the life support he depended on got disconnected accidentally. The boy’s family blamed Rahim and had him arrested.

Rahim was sentenced to death by Saudi authorities but the ruling was upheld by multiple appeals.

Rahim’s case came to light, which also marked the beginning of a massive humanitarian campaign. Malayalis across the world came together to raise funds for his release. The global fundraising effort saw a huge sum of about 1.5 million Saudi riyals (Rs. 34 crore) raised as ‘blood money’ in compensation for the alleged offence, even as the victim’s family agreed to pardon Rahim.

Rahim’s death sentence was cancelled in 2024, but Saudi legal procedures required him to be in jail for the completion of his prison term.

Rahim was released soon after the victim’s family accepted the blood money. He was reunited with his family in Kerala, thanks to thousands of people whose contributions saved him from death. – editor@nrifocus.com