Emotional reception to Kerala man who returns from Saudi prison after two decades

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, May 28, 2026: Kerala’s Kozhikode district witnessed emotional scenes on Thursday as Abdul Rahim reunited with his mother and relatives after spending nearly two decades in a Saudi Arabian prison.

Rahim, a native of Feroke in Kozhikode, returned home early Thursday morning after completing his prison term in a case related to the death of a differently-abled child in Saudi Arabia in 2006.

Hundreds of people gathered at his residence from the morning to welcome him back. Emotional scenes unfolded as Rahim embraced his elderly mother, Fathima, after years of separation. Rahim broke down in tears while relatives, friends and well-wishers cheered and comforted him.

“Thanks to all,” Rahim said while hugging his mother.

The family’s joy was doubled as his return coincided with Bakrid celebrations.

In one of the biggest crowdfunding campaigns witnessed in Kerala, around Rs 34 crore was raised in a short span in 2024 to pay the blood money of 15 million Saudi Riyals, which helped save Rahim from the death sentence.

Rahim had gone to Saudi Arabia in 2006 at the age of 20 and worked as a driver for a family there. During an altercation with a differently-abled boy in the household, the breathing support apparatus attached to the child reportedly became detached accidentally. Rahim allegedly did not notice the incident, and the child later died.

Saudi authorities found Rahim guilty and sentenced him to death. However, in 2024, the deceased child’s family agreed to accept blood money after considering the plea that the death had occurred accidentally.

As Rahim’s family was financially weak, an action council formed in Kerala launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the required amount for securing his release.

Thiruvananthapuram, May 28, 2026: Kerala’s Kozhikode district witnessed emotional scenes on Thursday as Abdul Rahim reunited with his mother and relatives after spending nearly two decades in a Saudi Arabian prison.

Rahim, a native of Feroke in Kozhikode, returned home early Thursday morning after completing his prison term in a case related to the death of a differently-abled child in Saudi Arabia in 2006.

Hundreds of people gathered at his residence from the morning to welcome him back. Emotional scenes unfolded as Rahim embraced his elderly mother, Fathima, after years of separation. Rahim broke down in tears while relatives, friends and well-wishers cheered and comforted him.

“Thanks to all,” Rahim said while hugging his mother.

The family’s joy was doubled as his return coincided with Bakrid celebrations.

In one of the biggest crowdfunding campaigns witnessed in Kerala, around Rs 34 crore was raised in a short span in 2024 to pay the blood money of 15 million Saudi Riyals, which helped save Rahim from the death sentence.

Rahim had gone to Saudi Arabia in 2006 at the age of 20 and worked as a driver for a family there. During an altercation with a differently-abled boy in the household, the breathing support apparatus attached to the child reportedly became detached accidentally. Rahim allegedly did not notice the incident, and the child later died.

Saudi authorities found Rahim guilty and sentenced him to death. However, in 2024, the deceased child’s family agreed to accept blood money after considering the plea that the death had occurred accidentally.

As Rahim’s family was financially weak, an action council formed in Kerala launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the required amount for securing his release.