Kerala Man In Death Row In Saudi Arabia; Efforts To Raise Blood Money OngoingAbdul Rahim, a native of Farook, Kozhikode, has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 18 years. The Saudi court has sentenced Abdul Rahim to death in the case related to the murder of a 15-year-old Saudi citizen. Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia will carry out the execution on April 16.
Abdul Rahim’s Release From Death Row: Rs 28 Crore Raised In 4 Days, Rs 6 Crore Pending
At the same time, Abdul Rahim’s only window of hope is that he will be released if a blood money of 15 million Saudi Riyals, which is equivalent to Rs 33.24 crore, is paid. The deadline to pay this amount ends on April 16. Family members and well-wishers, including locals, are making constant efforts to raise blood money. Various organisations and the expatriate community are also working together to support the release of Abdul Rahim.
According to an Onmanorama report, an action committee has been formed to raise money for Abdul Rahim through crowdfunding. A mobile application named ‘SAVE ABDUL RAHIM’ has also been developed as part of raising blood money.
Abdul Rahim was earlier working as an auto driver in Feroke. In 2006, he went to Saudi Arabia in search of better job opportunities and joined as a driver in Riyadh. His main duty was to take care of a 15-year-old differently-abled boy in the family. As per the Onmanorama report, one day when Abdul Rahim was driving the car with the boy, a device that supported the boy’s breathing accidentally fell inside the car. The boy went unconscious due to this and later died. The situation emerged as, at a traffic signal, the boy reportedly urged Abdul Rahim to move the car forward, ignoring the red light. When he refused to do this, the boy began beating him, and amid the altercation, Abdul Rahim unintentionally touched the medical device, causing it to fall down.
Later, the Saudi court sentenced Abdul Rahim for murder. In 2022, the appeal court upheld the verdict, and the country’s Supreme Court later confirmed the decision. Later, after long negotiations, the victim’s family agreed to accept the blood money. On April 16, 2023, an agreement was signed. As per the agreement, the blood money should be paid within the next six months. Reports suggest that businessman Boby Chemmannur and actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi are also making efforts to release Abdul Rahim.