In what could arguably be termed the biggest crowdfunding for humanitarian aid in the history of the State, thousands of Keralites, both in India and abroad, have joined hands to raise around ₹34 crore in around four days as blood money for the release of a Kozhikode native jailed in Saudi Arabia.
Malayali brethren from all walks of life did everything from Biriyani Challenge to selling tea during this period to raise the funds to deposit in the Saudi court for Abdul Rahim, who has been in a jail in the Gulf country for the last 18 years and is facing death sentence in a few days for the death of a 15-year-old Saudi citizen in 2006.
“We can’t believe we have done it. Even on Thursday we were not sure we could source this big an amount,” Abdul Samad, Mr. Rahim’s neighbour in his home town Feroke in Kozhikode district of Kerala, could not hide his enthusiasm while talking to The Hindu. Hundreds gathered at Mr. Rahim’s house at Kodampuzha in Feroke on Friday evening after the news of the success of the fundraiser came out. “Rahim’s mother and the other members of his family are still in a state of disbelief. They are a lower middle class family and never imagined they could raise such a huge amount,” Mr. Samad added.
