Calicut: In one of the largest charity campaigns in Kerala, a group of people here gathered Rs 34 crore to free Abdul Rahim, a native of Kozhikode, who has spent the last 18 years in Saudi Arabia’s prison on death row.
Three days before Rahim’s execution, the action group has raised the entire cash necessary for his freedom. The committee’s officials made the announcement at a press conference held here on Friday.
“This is the true story of Kerala,” a committee member stated, thanking everyone who participated in the crowdsourcing. In addition to Keralites, Malayalis residing in Riyadh organized a Biriyani challenge with the goal of raising the money required as blood money in exchange for Rahim’s release.
The action group released the “SAVEABDULRAHIM” smartphone app to facilitate crowdsourcing. Many others wanted to help with the good deed and contacted the action committee personally in addition to using the app.
Within four days, sources state that Rs 24 crore was raised. The number of people visiting Rahim’s home, which serves as the crowdfunding office, is increasing. The committee successfully raised the necessary funds and then pleaded with the public to cease donations.
A former auto driver from Feroke in Kozhikode, Abdul Raheem Raheem traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2006 in search of better opportunities. He worked as a house driver in Riyadh, where one of his responsibilities was to take care of a 15-year-old child with special needs in the home.
One day, while Rahim and the youngster were driving, a tragic event occurred. The child encouraged Rahim to drive the car ahead of the red light at a traffic signal. When he declined, the child started hitting and spitting at him, which made the situation worse. Rahim accidentally touched a medical gadget that was fastened to the boy’s shoulder during the altercation. The breathing aid that the youngster was using fell inside the vehicle. Eventually, the boy passed away and became unconscious.
2018 saw the boy’s murder conviction and death sentenced under Saudi law, following the boy’s family’s denial of amnesty. This ruling was maintained by the appeal court in 2022, and the nation’s Supreme Court subsequently supported it.
Currently, the execution of Rahim’s sentence has been temporarily halted by the court, following an agreement with the deceased boy’s family to accept diya (blood money) instead. The agreed amount is 15 million Saudi riyals, approximately Rs 33.24 crore, which must be paid within six months from the deal’s signing on October 16, 2023.
