“We have written letters to the Kerala Government and others concerned to help Shoukath’s family in this issue. Efforts are still on and we hope that things are moving in the right direction,” said Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

Following the ministry’s call to NRI organisations in the Gulf, the Indian community in Kuwait has stepped up efforts to raise the funds. A report in the Arab Times quoted a member of the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre as saying that they would “leave no stone unturned to save the convict.”

The Indian Express earlier reported a similar case of another Indian who was sentenced to death for killing his compatriot. He was pardoned last month after the victim’s wife signed a Maafi Naama, following the efforts of the government and the NRI community who raised the blood money.