Kin of murdered Yemeni refuse pardon for Nimisha Priya
The family of the Yemeni national for whose murder Kerala-born expat nurse Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death has ruled out accepting any proposal for a pardon, suggesting her execution being postponed at the intervention of Indian authorities and religious leaders, was at best a temporary reprieve.
"Nimisha won't be pardoned; she must face execution, as ruled by Yemeni courts," online news portals in Yemen quoted murder victim Talal Abdo Mahdi's brother Abdelfattah Mahdi as saying.
News of the Yemeni authorities deciding to keep the execution scheduled for Wednesday on hold till further orders came the previous day, raising hope in her native
Kerala
that there could yet be a breakthrough in negotiations.
Want retribution, nothing else: Kin of murdered Yemeni man
Abdelfattah dismissed any such possibility, including accepting blood money.
"What is happening today, and all the talk of mediation and reconciliation attempts, is neither new nor surprising," he posted on his Facebook page.
"Throughout the years of pursuing our case, there were covert efforts and serious attempts at mediation - and that is natural and expected. But the pressures we faced did not change us. Our demand is clear: qisas (retribution) and nothing else, no matter what."
Abdelfattah said the execution being postponed on the eve of the date fixed by the prison authorities on court orders was something the Mahdi family didn't expect.
"Those who stopped it are well aware of our absolute rejection of any form or method of reconciliation. We will follow through with the execution until it is carried out... Blood cannot be bought. Justice cannot be forgotten."
Nimisha, who is on death row since 2018, is from Kollengode in Palakkad. She was convicted of murdering Talal, with whom she had started a clinic in Sana'a, after he allegedly tortured her and seized her passport.
Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Muslaiyar, who holds the title of "Grand Mufti" of India, sought the help of Yemeni Islamic scholar Sheikh Habib Omar to persuade the Mahdi family to accept blood money and grant a pardon to Nimisha.
"We have been waging a legal battle and making diplomatic moves to rescue Nimisha Priya for the past five years. Talks between Musaliyar and the family over blood money are becoming complicated... This is creating problems for Nimisha's acquittal," the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
11 minutes ago
- India Today
Pak again extends closure of key air base struck during Operation Sindoor
Pakistan has for the third time extended the closure of the sole runway at its Rahim Yar Khan air base, suggesting the extensive damage inflicted by India during its Operation latest NOTAM (notice to airmen) issued by Pakistan said the runway would remain closed for flight operations till August 5. Without specifying any reason, the NOTAM just mentioned that the closure was due to work in The first NOTAM was issued on the day of India's strikes on May 10. It said the runway at the strategic airbase in Punjab province would be unavailable for flight operations for a week. The second NOTAM was issued on June 4, extending the closure till July commercial satellite images accessed by India Today showed a large and deep crater in the middle of the runway at the Rahim Yar Khan air base following the Indian strikes. A building at the air base also suffered extensive air base was among the 11 military sites targeted during Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. The strikes forced Pakistan to reach out to India for a ceasefire agreement.- EndsMust Watch
Deccan Herald
11 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Unmasking TRF: US designation marks turning point in fight against proxy terror
Srinagar: In a major international move that underscores growing global concern over South Asia's emerging terror networks, the United States on Friday designated The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).The announcement, made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, follows closely on the heels of the horrific Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, where 26 civilians were killed — making it one of the deadliest attacks in the Valley in recent designation is more than symbolic; it represents a firm global stance against the use of front groups by banned outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Indian security agencies have long argued that TRF is simply LeT in disguise, created to avoid international scrutiny by adopting a seemingly secular name and operating through indirect channels.'These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrate the Trump Administration's commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump's call for justice for the Pahalgam attack," Marco Rubio said in a emerged in late 2019, shortly after the government of India revoked Article 370 and reorganized Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. With the spotlight on Pakistan's terror infrastructure and pressure mounting from global bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), outfits like LeT began rebranding themselves. TRF was born out of that need — a new name, but old networks, old leadership, and old group quickly made its mark with high-quality propaganda, encrypted communication methods, and targeted attacks that mirrored the Lashkar playbook. Intelligence officials say TRF is not an independent entity but part of a 'branding shift' to portray militancy as local resistance rather than cross-border terrorism.'This is basically a front of the LeT… created particularly when Pakistan was under FATF pressure and needed plausible deniability,' said Dr. Ajai Sahni, head of the South Asia Terrorism distinguishes TRF from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen or Jaish-e-Mohammed is its embrace of digital warfare. The outfit has no known public leadership. Recruits are radicalized online, handlers operate from across the border, and the group communicates via encrypted platforms like describe TRF's strategy as 'headless' — meaning there's no singular leadership structure to target. Known LeT operatives rotate under TRF banners, ensuring continuity while avoiding long-term exposure. TRF has claimed responsibility for attacks on off-duty police personnel, BJP workers, and migrant labourers — acts designed to instill fear and disrupt social cohesion while projecting a façade of homegrown April 22 attack in Pahalgam changed everything. Masked TRF operatives ambushed a tourist bus, opening fire and killing 26 civilians, including several women and children. The scale and brutality of the attack drew widespread condemnation and forced international actors to reconsider the TRF's many, the massacre was a grim echo of past Lashkar atrocities, particularly the 2008 Mumbai attacks. It was also a political flashpoint. In India, Operation Sindoor — a counter-terror offensive — was launched in its aftermath. Globally, it generated the political will needed to was quick to welcome the US designation. 'Appreciate @SecRubio and @StateDept for designating TRF—a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) proxy—as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). It claimed responsibility for the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Zero tolerance for Terrorism. #OpSindoor," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar posted on the move is a diplomatic and symbolic victory, security analysts warn that TRF — like other LeT proxies — could regroup under a different banner or mutate into smaller cells. The fight, they say, must now go beyond designations and focus on dismantling the transnational terror networks that sustain such fronts.
The Hindu
11 minutes ago
- The Hindu
EU imposes sanctions on Rosneft's India refinery, lowers oil price cap
The European Union on Friday (July 18, 2025) imposed sanctions on the Indian oil refinery of Russian energy giant Rosneft and lowered the oil price cap, as part of a new raft of measures against Russia over its war in Ukraine. The fresh sanctions package on Russia included new banking restrictions, and curbs on fuels made from Russian crude oil. The lowered oil price cap — currently set at $60 per barrel — means Russia will be forced to sell its crude at reduced rates to buyers like India. As the second-largest purchaser of Russian oil, India stands to benefit from this move. Russian crude currently accounts for nearly 40% of India's total oil imports. "For the first time, we're designating a flag registry and the biggest Rosneft refinery in India," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on X. Rosneft owns a 49.13% stake in Nayara Energy Ltd, formerly Essar Oil Ltd. Nayara owns and operates a 20 million tonne a year oil refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat as also over 6,750 petrol pumps. Also Read | India can secure oil even if Russian imports sanctioned, says Oil Minister Puri An investment consortium SPV, Kesani Enterprises Company, holds a 49.13% stake in Nayara. Kesani is owned by Russia's United Capital Partners (UCP) and Hara Capital Sarl, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mareterra Group Holding (formerly Genera Group Holding S.p.A.). EU sanctions means Nayara cannot export fuel such as petrol and diesel to European countries. "We are standing firm. The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions package against Russia to date," Ms. Kallas said. "We're cutting the Kremlin's war budget further, going after 105 more shadow fleet ships, their enablers, and limiting Russian banks' access to funding." Among the sanctions announced were ban on Nord Stream pipelines, and a lower cap on price at which Russian can export oil. In December 2022, the Group of Seven (G7) nations imposed a $60 a barrel price cap on Russian oil sold to third countries. Under this mechanism, Western insurance and shipping services could only be used if the oil was sold at or below the capped price. The goal was to restrict Russia's oil revenues while maintaining stability in global energy supplies. However, the cap faced criticism for being largely ineffective in achieving its intended impact. The European Union and Britain had been pushing to lower the price cap after a fall in global oil prices made the current $60 cap nearly irrelevant. While Ms. Kallas did not specify the new price cap, reports suggest it will initially be set between $45 and $50, with automatic revisions at least twice a year based on market conditions. While the lower price cap stands to benefit importing countries like India, continued purchases may be at risk if the U.S. follows through on its threat of sanctions. Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that nations buying Russian exports could face sanctions or steep tariffs if Moscow does not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days. Russia typically supplies crude oil to India on a delivered basis — handling both shipping and insurance for the cargo and vessels. Under the price cap mechanism, Russia kept the official invoice price of crude below $60 per barrel to comply with sanctions, but charged higher rates for transportation services. This practice has allowed it to effectively realise prices closer to market rates despite the cap. The oil price cap was widely viewed as ineffective, as much of Russia's crude was being transported via a 'shadow fleet'—vessels operating outside the control of G7-based shipping services. A significant portion of Russia's seaborne oil exports was reportedly carried by tankers that were not flagged, owned, or operated by companies based in the G7, EU, Australia, Switzerland, or Norway, and were not insured by Western protection and indemnity clubs. The oil price cap was also widely viewed as ineffective, as much of Russia's crude was being transported via a 'shadow fleet' - vessels operating outside the control of G7-based shipping services. A significant portion of Russia's seaborne oil exports was reportedly carried by tankers that were not flagged, owned, or operated by companies based in the G7, EU, Australia, Switzerland, or Norway, and were not insured by Western protection and indemnity clubs. Russia's shadow tanker fleet expanded as the steep discounts on its crude oil narrowed — from record levels of around $40 per barrel below Dated Brent in 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine, to just $3–4 per barrel currently. "We are putting more pressure on Russia's military industry, Chinese banks that enable sanctions evasion, and blocking tech exports used in drones," Kallas said. "Our sanctions also hit those indoctrinating Ukrainian children. We will keep raising the costs, so stopping the aggression becomes the only path forward for Moscow." Europe imports fuels like diesel and petrol from India. Indian refiners typically buy large amounts of Russian crude, which is refined to fuels like petrol and diesel and exported to EU. Oil income is the linchpin of Russia's economy, allowing President Vladimir Putin to pour money into the armed forces without worsening inflation for everyday people and avoiding a currency collapse.
