Rs 34 crore raised for expat's release from death row

KOZHIKODE: With just four days to go before Machilakath Abdul Rahim’s court-ordered execution would be set in motion in Saudi Arabia, Keralites of all persuasions and beliefs — Hindus, Christians, Muslims — came together to save Rahim. In a way, he was ‘born again’ and it was an apt Eid-Vishu gift too. In a remarkable show of benevolence and solidarity, Keralites belonging to all walks of life — from daily wage workers to businessmen and expats to even guest workers in state — raised Rs 34 crore blood money (diyah) needed to secure Rahim’s release.
Rahim, hailing from Kodampuzha here, had been an autorickshaw driver at Feroke and he had gone to Saudi Arabia in November 2006 as driver in the house of a Saudi national, Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri. He was mainly tasked to Al Shahri’s differently abled son Anas Al Shahri.
On the fateful day just one month after his arrival in Saudi, Rahim was trying to pacify Anas who became agitated during a trip, when his hand accidentally hit the tube attached to the boy’s throat. Anas became unconscious and later died. A court in Riyadh found Rahim guilty of murder and awarded him a death sentence, which was upheld by higher courts as well. The Saudi family did not want to grant pardon to Rahim all these years despite interventions by various organisations, but later agreed to do so on payment of 15 million Saudi riyals (Rs 34 crore) by April 16.
A legal assistance committee, formed to secure Rahim’s release, took up the mammoth task. “It was the life of Rahim’s mother in tears in the past 18 years that moved us to make an attempt. Today, the happiness on her face is our biggest reward,” committee chairman K Suresh Kumar said.
Rahim’s mother Fathima said she never thought such a big amount could be raised, but she had hopes that her prayers would be answered. “I thank everyone. Now my son will finally be able to come home. Harmony of people has helped in the effort to save my son. I have not seen him for the past 18 years. Even when he calls, I am not able to speak,” she said.
Family members said Rahim, who called home in the afternoon, also thanked everyone.
The committee went about the task in a systematic manner by taking all the required permissions. An app was created with the help of a Malappuram-based IT services company to carry it out in a transparent manner, where donors could track the collection. Also, five WhatsApp groups with 1,000 members were created to spread the details of the fund collection drive, besides over social media.
Committee convener K K Alikutty said a majority of contributors were common people. “People joined hands irrespective of their backgrounds. From auto drivers to Kudumbashree workers, everyone did their bit. This is the real Kerala Story,” he said.
Saudi KMCC office-bearer Ashraf Vengad said there was an unprecedented response in Gulf countries as well. The fundraising, which stood at Rs 2 crore just 20 days ago, saw a sudden spurt over the last few days, with the daily collection touching over Rs 5-6 crores.
On Friday, around 3pm, the committee halted the fund collection as the total collection, including contributions in cash, touched Rs 34.4 crore. Businessman Bobby Chemmannur had handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to IUML president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal. The plea to help Rahim was mentioned during Friday prayers in mosques. The committee office-bearers said they would present the audited details soon.

Rahim was held guilty of killing employer’s special child
Machilakath Abdul Rahim, of Kodampuzha near Kozhikode, moved to Saudi Arabia in Nov 2006 as a driver in the house of Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri, a Saudi national. His primary responsibility was to ferry and look after his employer’s specially abled child.
A month later, while trying to pacify the boy, his hand accidentally hit the tube attached to the child’s throat. The boy became unconscious and later died. A court in Riyadh found Rahim guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. Higher courts upheld the verdict. Later, the family said it will let him off for 15 million riyals within a deadline.