Srinagar: The Jammu & Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) on Monday said it has written to External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent intervention in the detention of a Kashmiri youth in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In its letter, the Association stated that the youth, Amjad Ali Bhat, a resident of Gund Ibrahim village in Pattan area of Baramulla district in north Kashmir, belongs to the Shia community and was working as a Nurse Specialist in Dammam with a Saudi Arabia-based company, Saudi Response Plus Medical.
JKSA said that Bhat was reportedly detained by the Saudi Civil Defence Forces on March 25, 2026. The detention is believed to have followed a social media post described as a tribute to Iran’s assassinated Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. However, no formal charges or official communication regarding the grounds of his detention have been conveyed to his family or the employer, the JKSA said.
It stated that since March 25, 2026, there has been no contact with Amjad Ali Bhat. His family and employer have not received any updates from the concerned Saudi authorities regarding his condition or legal status. JKSA added that this prolonged lack of communication has caused immense anxiety and distress among his family members.
Emphasizing his background, the Association noted that Amjad Ali Bhat has no known history of involvement in any unlawful, anti-government, or controversial activities. He is a healthcare professional working abroad to support his family and has maintained a clean personal and professional record.
The Association urged the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the matter with Saudi authorities at the highest diplomatic level to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding his detention. It further requested that the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Dammam be directed to urgently establish contact with him and ascertain his well-being.
The Association also appealed that he be provided with necessary consular access and legal assistance in accordance with international norms and bilateral agreements, and that efforts be made to facilitate his early release if no substantial charges are established against him.
JKSA expressed hope that the External Affairs Minister would act swiftly and compassionately to safeguard the rights, dignity, and well-being of an Indian citizen abroad. “We sincerely urge the External Affairs minister to intervene at the earliest and ensure that justice, transparency, and humanitarian considerations prevail in this matter,” JKSA added.
