Kashmiri engineer jailed in Saudi Arabia; family desperate for justice

Baba travelled to Saudi Arabia 10 years ago to pursue better job prospects. He had been the pillar of his family’s financial stability.

A 36-year-old Kashmiri engineer from Srinagar’s Soura city has been languishing in prison in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for four years, leaving his family in a state of perpetual anxiety and hope.

The incident dates back to March 1, 2020, when Abdul Rafi Baba was detained by Saudi police at his workplace at King Faisal University in Hofuf, a city in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahsa region. Since then, his family has made nonstop visits to every organization and countless inquiries in pursuit of crucial information about his safety and whereabouts.

The Kashmiri engineer travelled to Saudi Arabia 10 years ago to pursue better job prospects. He had been the pillar of his family’s financial stability. However, his sudden arrest made his family live in constant fear and sadness.

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Speaking to ETV Bharat, his father Manzoor ul Haq Baba, recalled the day his son left home in search of a better future. He persistently vouched for his son’s integrity. “There isn’t a single criminal case against him here in Jammu and Kashmir, not even a minor one. Anyone can verify this with the J&K police,” Manzoor said.

According to his family, Baba was ensnared in internal company disputes and falsely implicated. However, the exact details of the charges against him remain unclear.

Manzoor mentioned one phone conversation he had with his son several years ago as the sole moment of connection that existed during all that time. His son told him the authorities fabricated evidence against him but failed to prove any wrongdoing.

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According to Manzoor his son can’t get justice from the Saudi courts because no one stands up for him. “We are financially broken. I cannot afford to go to Saudi Arabia personally to defend my son”, he said.

Over the past four years, Manzoor has contacted authorities many times about his son’s case but they continue to ignore his messages year after year.

“I have written several letters to Home Minister Amit Shah and External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, but I haven’t received a single response yet. I’m feeling helpless,” Manzoor told the newspaper.

Despite repeated petitions, they have not received important answers from law enforcement. Baba’s family want his legal status clarified and demands both a fair court system and his release from prison.

Manzoor requested the central and state governments to step in and help him fight for justice in his son’s case.

Abdul Rafi Baba’s imprisonment impacts his family’s life through their fight to obtain justice against unfair treatment. As his children dream about seeing him again the biggest concern arises when will Abdul Rafi Baba return home.

J&K political leaders call

Taking to X, Jammu and Kashmir’s Apni Party tagged the official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal and the Indian embassy urged them to intervene to prove legal support to the Kashmiri engineer.

“Provide legal support to Kashmiri engineer Abdul Rafi Baba, who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past 4 years. Justice must prevail, and his release must be secured,” they wrote.

The party’s Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat wrote, that “Abdul Rafi Baba has been unjustly imprisoned for 4 years. We urge @MEAIndia and @IndianEmbRiyadh to take immediate action and ensure his legal rights are upheld. Justice delayed is justice denied #JusticeForAbdulRafiBaba”.

Official X handle of Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (J&K PDP) also applied the ministers to take up the case and help Baba’s family in the legal battle.

“Abdul Rafi Baba was arrested in March 2020 in Saudi Arabia & continues to be in jail even after 4+ years. Requesting Hon’ble Minister @DrSJaishankar, @MEAIndia to kindly take up the case & help the family”, they wrote.

Meanwhile, the J&K Students Association which is the largest countrywide Student network working for the safety, and welfare of JK Students and citizens informed that the organisation will take up the case of Baba with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.

“He has been jailed in Saudi Arabia for four years under unclear circumstances, and his family has been running from pillar to post, seeking answers but to no avail. We will urge @MEAIndia to expedite the process and seek Minister Jaishankar’s intervention to ensure a fair investigation and his safe return home,” they wrote on X.



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