Who is Nimisha Priya? Kerala nurse faces death in Yemen as victim's family refuses pardon under islamic law Qisas

Time of India

16-07-2025

Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of the deceased Talal Abdo Mehdi, has declared that the family will not accept any form of compensation or pardon for Nimisha Priya, the 36-year-old Kerala-born nurse convicted of Talal's murder in 2017. Speaking to BBC Arabic on July 14, Abdelfattah reiterated that only Qisas, or retributive justice under Islamic law, would be acceptable to the family.
Rejecting Indian media reports that suggested Talal had abused Priya or withheld her passport, Abdelfattah accused outlets of 'portraying a convicted murderer as a victim.' He said, 'We suffered not only due to the brutal crime but also from the prolonged and painful litigation process.'
He confirmed that Talal's relationship with Nimisha began professionally, turned into a business partnership, and eventually led to a short-lived marriage that lasted four years. Despite all these, he maintained, 'No dispute can justify the killing, mutilation, and concealment of the body.'
The execution of Nimisha Priya, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow (16/07/25), has been postponed to another day.This is the verdict given by the Public Prosecution of Specialized Criminal Court, Republic of Yemen, today. pic.twitter.com/QvPrrF8zCu
Who is Nimisha Priya and why is there delay in execution?
Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 seeking better job prospects. Over the years, her professional relationship with local businessman Talal Abdo Mehdi soured. In 2017, according to Yemeni authorities, she tried to recover her passport by sedating Talal, resulting in a fatal overdose. She, along with another nurse, allegedly dismembered his body and disposed of it in a water tank.
She was sentenced to death in 2020. Her appeals in Yemeni courts were rejected. Although her execution was initially set for July 16, it has been postponed. Sources suggest that this delay follows diplomatic and humanitarian interventions by Indian authorities to secure more time for negotiations.
Talks between Nimisha's family, Indian religious leaders, and Yemeni clerics are ongoing. The Grand Mufti of India, AP Abubakar Musliyar, is reportedly involved in outreach efforts aimed at reconciliation. Meetings involving tribal elders, religious figures, and the victim's family are continuing, but no breakthrough has been reached.
What is Qisas and why it matters in this case
Qisas, rooted in Islamic Sharia law, allows a murder victim's family to demand retributive justice, typically capital punishment. It follows the 'eye for an eye' principle and is legally recognised in countries like Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and others with Sharia-based criminal systems.
In these jurisdictions, the victim's family may also opt for clemency by accepting diyah, or blood money, which can lead to a pardon. However, in this case, Talal's family has publicly refused all compensation offers.
Abdelfattah Mehdi made the family's position clear in a Facebook post:
'Our demand is clear: Qisas, and nothing else, no matter what.'
Following the postponement of the execution, he wrote,
'Unfortunately, we did not expect this... No postponement will stop us. No pressure will shake us. Blood cannot be bought. Justice cannot be forgotten. Qisas will be done, no matter how long it takes. With God's help.'
As things stand, Nimisha Priya's fate rests entirely in the hands of Talal's family, who continue to reject reconciliation or blood money. While diplomatic efforts are underway, the legal framework of Qisas limits options. Her case remains one of the most high-profile examples of how Islamic criminal justice intersects with international diplomacy and humanitarian intervention.