J&K Students Association writes to EAM Jaishankar, seeks urgent intervention for Kashmiri Engineer facing uncertain fate in Saudi Jail

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Sunday wrote to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, urging him to intervene in the distressing case of Abdul Rafi Baba, a Kashmiri engineer who has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past four years under unclear circumstances. The Association has sought immediate diplomatic engagement with the Saudi government to ensure a fair investigation into his case and facilitate his safe return to India. 

In a statement, the National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, said that Abdul Rafi Baba, a resident of Soura, Srinagar, had been working as a networking engineer at King Faisal University in Hofuf, Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia, for nearly a decade before his sudden arrest on March 1, 2020. His family was never formally informed about the reasons behind his detention, and despite repeated appeals, they remain in the dark about the charges against him. His colleagues in Saudi Arabia have suggested that his arrest may have been linked to internal disputes within his company, leading to his wrongful implication in baseless allegations. However, no official communication has ever been made to his family regarding the nature of his detention. 

He emphasized that for the past four years, Baba’s father, Manzoor-ul-Haq Baba, an ailing widower, has been making desperate efforts to seek justice. He has written multiple letters to the Government of India but has received no response or clarity on his son’s legal status. His deteriorating health and the immense emotional distress of not knowing his son’s fate have left him shattered. 

He further stated that the prolonged uncertainty has taken a severe toll on Baba’s family, particularly his two young children—six-year-old Hafsah and four-year-old Mohammad Anwar—who continue to wait for their father’s return without understanding why he was taken away. His wife and extended family have been struggling with immense financial hardships, making it impossible for them to seek legal representation in Saudi Arabia. With no resources at their disposal and no direct access to legal assistance, they feel abandoned and helpless. 

The family has also revealed that Baba has been enduring a terrible crisis in jail. He has undergone surgery twice due to severe health complications and has suffered multiple mental breakdowns. His condition has worsened under the harsh prison conditions, yet he has received minimal medical attention. He is only allowed to speak with his family once a week for a mere five minutes, leaving them in constant agony and uncertainty. The family further disclosed that the Saudi authorities had initially sentenced him to nine years in prison, but it was later reduced to five years. He completed his five-year sentence on March 1, 2020, yet he was not released. Instead, he was informed that he now faces a life imprisonment term, without any proper explanation or legal proceedings. This unexpected extension of his sentence has left his family in complete despair. 

In its letter to the External Affairs Minister, Association sought his personal intervention and urged him to explore all diplomatic channels to secure Baba’s release. The Association has requested the Indian government to take up the issue with the Saudi authorities, provide clarity on the charges, ensure a fair trial if required, and facilitate his repatriation at the earliest. It has also urged the Indian Embassy in Riyadh to extend immediate consular and legal assistance to Baba so that he is not left to fight this battle alone. 

The Association said that the Indian government has consistently stood by its citizens abroad and played a crucial role in ensuring justice and their safe return during times of crisis and uncertainty. Under the leadership of Dr. Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs has successfully intervened in several cases of Indians facing unjust imprisonment overseas. Given the humanitarian nature of this case, the Association expressed hope that the MEA would act swiftly to bring Baba back home. 

Khuehami added that Baba’s father continues to live with a single wish—to see his son free before his time runs out. The family’s prolonged suffering has reached a breaking point. The Association urged the Ministry of External Affairs to act decisively and reiterated that Abdul Rafi Baba deserves justice and his family deserves answers. It called upon the Ministry to ensure that no Indian citizen is left unheard and that Baba’s case receives the urgent attention it requires.