20 years, Rs 34 crore blood money, 1 prayer answered: Kerala man on Saudi death row returns home on Bakrid

KOZHIKODE: Abdul Rahim, the Feroke native who spent nearly 20 years in a Saudi prison and whose release sparked a massive crowdfunding campaign by Malayalis worldwide, returned home on Thursday to an emotional welcome on Eid al-Adha.Rahim, who had once faced the death penalty in Saudi Arabia in connection with the death of the differently abled son of his Saudi sponsor, landed at Calicut International Airport at 7.35am on an Air India Express flight, days after completing his 20-year prison term on May 20.The return of Rahim — which had once appeared almost impossible for his family — turned into a moment of celebration not just for his relatives, but also for lakhs of Malayalis who had followed his case and contributed to the campaign for his release.Unable to hold back tears, Rahim broke down while thanking those who had gathered at the airport to receive him. People’s representatives, members of the Abdul Rahim Legal Aid Committee and hundreds of well-wishers were present to welcome him back.At his modest residence, Zeeyath Manzil at Kuttampuzha near Feroke, scenes turned deeply emotional as Rahim reunited with his family after two decades.His mother, Fathima, who had spent every Eid praying for her son’s return, embraced him in tears as neighbours, relatives and supporters crowded around the family home. Many had come straight from Eid prayers at nearby mosques to witness the homecoming.“My heartfelt thanks to all those who supported me and prayed for me,” an emotional Rahim said after returning home.Fathima said she had prayed for this moment for the last 20 years. “I had only one prayer all these years, and today Allah reunited my son with me on Eid,” she said.Rahim’s return marked the culmination of one of Kerala’s biggest public fundraising campaigns. From daily wage labourers and expatriates to students and businessmen, thousands contributed to efforts aimed at saving a man many knew only through his story.The campaign eventually collected around Rs 47 crore, including nearly Rs 34 crore paid as “blood money”, paving the way for his release from death row.Rahim had travelled to Saudi Arabia at the age of 26 after leaving his driver’s job in Kerala in search of better opportunities. However, his life changed dramatically in 2006 when, according to reports, he accidentally touched a medical support device attached to the differently abled son of his Saudi sponsor, Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri. The child later died, leading to Rahim’s arrest.A Riyadh court sentenced him to death in 2012 while he was serving his prison term. The case later drew widespread attention in Kerala, triggering an unprecedented fundraising effort launched by the Abdul Rahim Legal Aid Committee during Ramadan in 2024.In July 2024, a Saudi court revoked Rahim’s death sentence after the victim’s family agreed to pardon him upon receiving the blood money.However, the Riyadh court later ordered that Rahim complete a 20-year prison sentence under Saudi Arabia’s Public Rights Act. That term officially ended on May 20 this year.His release and return formalities were expedited with the help of the Riyadh Legal Aid Committee and Indian embassy officials.Back home, Fathima had prepared Rahim’s favourite Malabar dishes for Eid — a celebration the family said they had waited two decades to share together.