Saudi Court Further Postpones The Release Of Abdul Rahim

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Abdul Raheem, the Kerala man who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 18 years, is not released yet. His release has been further delayed after a court decision was pushed back once again. Reportedly, this is the fifth time his release is being delayed.

The latest postponement of his release occurred when the court requested additional time to review the details of the case. Raheem, who was convicted for the 2006 murder of a young Saudi boy, has been awaiting release since his death sentence was overturned in July 2024. The hearing has been rescheduled for 15th January, leaving Raheem’s family in continued uncertainty.

Raheem’s mother, who has been eagerly waiting for her son’s comeback is left in tears yet again. Since the overturning of his death penalty, she had little communication with Raheem through occasional phone calls from the prison.

Also Read: More Than Rs 24 Crore Raised, Efforts Escalated For Release Of Abdul Rahim – The Indian On Death Row

“This delay is causing us unimaginable distress. We hope the court finds a way to resolve this quickly…We just want him back home”, she told reporters. “We’ve been waiting for years, and each delay makes it harder. But we still hold onto hope that the end is near”, she further added.

Despite all the setbacks, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has already prepared the necessary travel documents for Raheem’s return. Final ruling in the case is expected to be announced during the January 15th hearing. Once the court issues its final ruling, which is expected after the January 15th hearing, the decision will be communicated to the prison and the Governor’s office. If the ruling is in Raheem’s favour, the paperwork for his repatriation will be completed promptly.

Raheem’s legal team has been working tirelessly to ensure that all the documents and evidence are thoroughly reviewed. However, the court has expressed the need for further scrutiny, which has led to the additional delays.

Also Read: Abdul Rahim A Free Man, Riyadh Court Orders; To Be Released Soon

Despite the setback, the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia has already prepared the necessary travel documents for Raheem’s return. Once the court issues its final ruling, which is expected after the January 15th hearing, paperwork for his repatriation will be done promptly, aligning with the prison and Governor’s office.

Earlier this year, the court overturned Raheem’s death sentence, after a check of one and a half crore Riyals (approximately more than 34 crore rupees) was handed over to the representative of the family of the murdered Saudi boy through the embassy. After many attempt to collect the blood money for his release, many people from the several walk of life came together to collect over Rs 34 crore three days ahead of the deadline, that was set by the Saudi court.

Raheem’s case has became a sensitive issue in Saudi Arabia, grabbing attention of both local and international human rights groups.