Makkah: Indian journalist Risha Hussain, who works with TV9 Bharatvarsh, has reportedly been detained in Saudi Arabia while on an Umrah pilgrimage, according to her family and media reports. Her family said it has been unable to contact her since Wednesday, September 30.
Hussain, who is from Jaipur, travelled from New Delhi to Saudi Arabia on the morning of September 28, her sister Kainat Jafri said. According to Jafri, Hussain had completed her Umrah and was scheduled to travel to Madinah.
Jafri said Hussain last contacted a friend at around 6–7 pm Indian time on September 30. During the communication, she reportedly said that she was being detained and asked the friend to inform her family.
The circumstances surrounding the reported detention remain unclear. Her family has said it is trying to establish contact with her and determine where she is being held. There has been no confirmed public explanation from Saudi authorities regarding the reported detention in the sources reviewed.
Hussain's recent social media posts showed her in Makkah during her pilgrimage, including footage from the Grand Mosque and the area around the Kaaba.
Risha Hussain's journalism career
Risha Hussain is a journalist and news anchor from Jaipur. Her professional profile lists previous associations with Zee News, NDTV and First India News, and her current association with TV9 Bharatvarsh.
During her time with First India News, she worked as a news reader in Jaipur and was involved in writing, copy editing, research and programme coordination. Her profile also mentions reporting on the Nuh violence and the Odisha train accident, along with coverage of festivals including Holi and Eid.
The reported detention remains under scrutiny as her family seeks further information about her whereabouts and circumstances.
