TRIVANDRUM, India, 7 April 2006 — The Kerala migrant worker Abdul Latheef Naushad, who spent three years in a Saudi jail facing an-eye-for-an-eye punishment, returned home yesterday to a happy reunion with his family.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, his wife Mariamma, political leaders and a large number of people from Naushad’s village were present at the Trivandrum International Airport to receive him.

Naushad, 34, who received a royal pardon after his family petitioned Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah during his visit to New Delhi in January, thanked the Indian and Saudi authorities.

In a letter to the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani, India’s Junior Foreign Minister E. Ahamed thanked the king for “this magnanimous and friendly gesture.” The Kingdom’s decision to extradite Naushad was communicated by Madani to Ahamed, who is now in Chicago on an official visit.

“This humanitarian gesture will go a long way in further strengthening our ever-growing fraternal relations,” Ahamed said in the letter.

Cuddling his daughter, who was born after his last visit to India, Naushad said he never gave up hope and was aware of the sincere efforts made by the government, media and social organizations for his return home.

Aside from wife Suhaila, his father Abdul Latheef, mother Nafeesa Beevi, son Nasif, 5, and daughter Asna welcomed him at the airport. Suhaila said Allah had answered her prayers.

Chief Minster Chandy said the government would extend all possible help to Naushad in resuming a normal life, be it in India or in the Gulf.

“As far as I know, there is no legal or technical hitch in going back to Saudi Arabia. I have not decided anything yet,” Naushad said.

Wife Suhaila, however, said she wanted Naushad to stay with the family.

The reunited family drove home, where the entire village turned up to receive Naushad who had gone to the Gulf 10 years ago.

In 2003, Naushad damaged the eye of Naif Al-Otaibi, a computer professional, during a scuffle at a gas station where the former was employed. Weeks later, Al-Otaibi lost sight in the right eye. Naushad was sentenced by a court to have one of his eyes gouged out.

Following appeals by the Indian government, the victim pardoned Naushad, making the granting of clemency possible.

Newspapers, both in India and the Kingdom, played a crucial role in his release after Naushad spoke to local journalists during a routine telephone call to his home from his prison cell in Dammam.