Saudi Arabia Releases Indian Clerk Following Diplomatic Push

Amjad Ali, an Indian citizen from Baramulla, was freed from a Saudi detention centre after a three‑month stay behind bars. The 2026 incident began when Saudi civil‑defence officers detained him in Dammam while he was employed as a health worker.

Police took his passport and identity card, made him sign a statement, and questioned him over a Facebook post that expressed sorrow over the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. No formal charge was ever communicated to Amjad.

Concerned about his prolonged, unexplained confinement, the Jammu‑Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) sent a formal appeal to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting diplomatic intervention, consular access, and legal aid.

Following persistent diplomatic dialogue between New Delhi, Riyadh, and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, Amjad was released on 25 June. He was then flown back to India, where he arrived safely in Baramulla and was welcomed by his family.

JKSA praised the minister’s rapid response, emphasizing the role of effective consular support in safeguarding overseas Indians.