The family of journalist Risha Hussain, who works with TV9 Bharatvarsh, said they have been unable to contact her since Wednesday after she travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
Hussain, who is from Jaipur, travelled from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia on the morning of September 28, according to her sister Kainat Jafri.
Jafri said Hussain last contacted a friend around 6 to 7 p.m. Indian time on Wednesday and told her that she was being detained. She then asked the friend to inform her family.
“We are worried and trying our best to contact her,” Jafri said.
Family Says Journalist Was Travelling for Umrah
According to her family, Hussain had completed her Umrah and was scheduled to travel to Medina.
Her last Instagram post was a video reel showing her posing in front of the Makkah Clock Tower near the Grand Mosque. The video featured an Urdu nasheed praising Imam Hussain.
The family said Hussain belongs to the Shia Muslim community.
In a social media post seeking help, a person claimed that she had sent a message saying “Arrested” at around 7:11 p.m. Indian time on Wednesday. The post alleged that her temporary Saudi phone number and WhatsApp account subsequently became unavailable.
The post also appealed to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi authorities and TV9 Bharatvarsh for assistance.
Circumstances of Reported Detention Unclear
The circumstances surrounding Hussain’s reported detention remain unclear.
Her family said it was trying to establish contact with her and determine where she was being held. It was also seeking help from Indian authorities to locate her and understand the circumstances of the reported detention.
There was no immediate information available on the reason for the reported detention or whether any formal case had been registered against Hussain.
