Hyderabad: A woman from the city has sought the intervention of the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to secure the release of her husband, who she alleges has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for the past nine months, and to reunite her with her elder son, whom she claims has been separated from the family and remains in the custody of relatives there despite a court order.In a representation to external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Aliya Begum, a resident of Chanchalguda, alleged that her family’s troubles began after they moved to Saudi Arabia before the Covid-19 pandemic based on assurances of employment and support from relatives. She claimed the promises never materialised and the relationship later deteriorated amid a dispute over the custody of her elder son Mohammed Jameel.“Since the beginning they wanted one of my two sons since they have only one girl child,” Aaliya alleged, claiming that her relatives retained custody of Jameel and refused to allow him to return to his parents.Aliya said she returned to Hyderabad about one-and-a-half years ago during Ramzan with her younger son after her visa expired, believing that Jameel would be sent to India later. “When that did not happen, my husband remained in Saudi Arabia and initiated legal proceedings seeking custody of our son,” she said.According to Aliya, her husband, Shaik Mohammed, was subsequently implicated in a case by the relatives after he approached the court. “I don’t even know what case he has been put behind bars for. He has been in jail for the past nine months,” she claimed.In her petition, Aliya stated that a Saudi court had recognised Mohammed as the lawful father and legal guardian of Jameel and ordered that custody of the child be restored to him through the competent authorities. However, she alleged that the court’s directions had not been implemented and that neither her husband nor her son had been reunited with the family.She further claimed that she had been unable to speak to Jameel for the past six months and was unaware of his wellbeing. The prolonged separation from both her husband and son had caused severe emotional, financial and psychological distress, she said.Seeking urgent intervention on humanitarian grounds, Aliya urged the MEA and the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia to ascertain her husband’s condition, provide him with consular and legal assistance, facilitate his release and repatriation, ensure implementation of the custody order, safeguard the welfare of Jameel and help reunite the family.
