20 long years in prison,then finally seeing mother Fathima again on Thursday… not small thing ah .
Rahim reached Karipur International Airport around 7:30 a.m . after flight from Riyadh,and crowd of relatives,friends and supporters was already waiting there . These were people who had followed his story for two decades,so this was not just normal airport arrival.
And when he met his mother,Fathima,the whole scene turned emotional . She had waited all these years fearing maybe she may never see her son again,and then suddenly he is standing in front of her with tears in his eyes.
Rahim also thanked everyone who helped in his release,saying,"I'm thankful to each and every one who made this possible." Simple line,but after 20 years,it carries lot of weight.
Few things standing out clearly here:
- Abdul Rahim spent 20 long years in a Saudi Arabian prison .
- ₹34 crore was raised for his legal defense through global Malayali community support .
- His reunion with Fathima showed how long mother’s hope can survive.
Rahim’s trouble started in November 2006,when he went to Saudi Arabia on a house driver visa to support his family . His life changed after tragic accident involving differently abled boy while he was caring for him .
He maintained that it was accident,but he was arrested and later sentenced to death in 2012 . And tbh,that part itself explains why Malayali community worldwide got so emotionally involved in his case.
The Abdul Rahim Legal Assistance Committee then led massive campaign and raised ₹34 crore,which helped in negotiating pardon from victim's family in exchange for blood money . His death sentence was annulled in July 2024,but even after that,he still had to complete 20-year prison term before release.
Now Rahim is back home,but how does someone even restart life after losing two decades like this . Family is there,community is there,warmth is there… but those 20 years are also there only…
