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Indian Express
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Nimisha Priya's case shows formal diplomacy is not enough; we also need faith-based mediation
Written by Shameer Modongal On July 16, Indian nurse Nimisha Priya faced the threat of imminent execution in Yemen after being convicted for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Though the threat has been averted for now, the execution might happen anytime. Given that India has no formal diplomatic ties with the Houthi-led administration in Yemen – they are in touch with 'friendly governments' — the Centre has informed the Supreme Court that it had made all possible efforts within its diplomatic reach. This case highlights a crucial limitation of traditional state diplomacy. When governments are unable to negotiate due to political or legal constraints, alternative approaches are required. In Nimisha Priya's case, the intervention of religious leadership — specifically Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad (Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar) — opened a new pathway. He initiated talks with the family of the victim through renowned Yemeni cleric Sheikh Umar bin Hafiz. It was critical since, under Islamic law, the family of the deceased holds the power to forgive the offender. Islamic law (Sharia) provides a unique mechanism for justice that prioritises the role of victims and their families. Specifically, in cases of murder or bodily harm, the system of Qisās (retributive justice) allows the victim's family to demand equal punishment, accept diyah (blood money), or forgive the offender entirely. This legal flexibility allows justice to be administered with a focus on healing and reconciliation. This contrasts with conventional criminal justice systems rooted in retributive justice. The conventional model views crime as a violation of state law, with the primary questions being: What law was broken? Who committed the crime? What punishment is deserved? Victims typically have no direct role in the legal process. In contrast, the Islamic system — particularly in Qisās cases — centres on restorative justice. It asks: Who has been hurt? What do they need? Who is responsible for addressing these needs? Victims, offenders, and their communities are recognised as central actors. This system encourages open dialogue, emotional expression, and healing, empowering those most directly affected by crime to participate in its resolution. Justice (‛adl) is a foundational goal in Islam, repeatedly emphasised in the Qur'an and Sunnah. It emphasises forgiveness, repentance (Tawbah), and moral reform. The Qur'an urges believers to forgive others even in moments of anger, and extols the value of kind speech and forgiveness over charity. Although retribution is a permitted option, forgiveness is regarded as morally superior and divinely rewarded. In the context of Nimisha Priya's case, the key to securing clemency lies in convincing the family of Mahdi to forgive. However, this is not merely a legal or financial matter. The trauma they experienced, the loss of a loved one, and the anger toward the offender are powerful emotional forces. Political or legal arguments alone are often inadequate to address such profound grief and pain. This is where religious and spiritual frameworks can offer meaningful support. In the Arab world, Sulha — a traditional, religiously infused form of mediation — has long been used to resolve conflicts, including those involving serious crimes like murder. Rooted in Islamic ethics and community traditions, Sulha emphasises restoring broken relationships, acknowledging harm, repentance by the offender, and forgiveness by the victim's family. Sulha is both ritualistic and spiritual. It provides a structured process where the offender shows genuine remorse and responsibility, while the victim's family is encouraged to forgive and move toward reconciliation. The process involves respected third parties, often religious scholars or elders, who are seen as morally trustworthy and neutral. Through prayer, religious counsel, and social rituals, Sulha fosters spiritual healing and social reintegration. In Nimisha Priya's case, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad reached out to Hafiz for mediation, who sent his students to engage directly with Talal's family, seeking to persuade them of the Islamic virtue and reward of forgiveness. Their effort represents a powerful example of faith-based diplomacy, where religious leaders act as moral intermediaries beyond the reach of formal diplomatic or legal institutions. Nimisha Priya's fate still lies in the hands of Talal's family. Whether they demand retributive justice or offer forgiveness — either with or without diyah — will determine her ultimate fate. Both paths are permissible under Islamic law. Yet, the success of future negotiations may largely depend on the continued involvement of religious actors and the use of spiritual language that emphasises mercy, healing, and divine reward. Trusted religious figures, such as Imams or Sufi leaders, serve as mediators, leveraging their moral authority and community respect to foster trust and resolution. In many parts of the Muslim world, especially in contexts of weak or fractured state institutions, religious leaders maintain high moral legitimacy and influence. Their transnational networks can also facilitate people-to-people diplomacy even when state-to-state diplomacy is blocked due to political tensions. This case illustrates the growing importance of spiritual diplomacy — the use of religious soft power to resolve conflicts, build bridges, and promote justice in emotionally and politically complex situations. The path to justice in Nimisha Priya's case does not run through courts or embassies alone. It runs through the hearts of those affected by the tragedy. Only through healing that reaches both the emotional and spiritual realms can reconciliation be achieved. The writer is visiting scholar in residence, American University, Washington DC, and the author of Islamic Perspectives of International Conflict Resolution (Routledge)
Yemen Online
20-07-2025
- Yemen Online
Kerala Man Found Safe in Yemen Government Custody After Houthi Ship Attack
A man from Kerala, who had been reported missing following a Houthi-led attack on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea, has been located in the custody of Yemeni government authorities, according to family sources. The individual, identified as a crew member aboard the ship targeted by Houthi forces, reportedly contacted his family with the message, "I'm safe", ending days of anxious uncertainty. The ship had been sailing through contested waters when it was struck amid escalating regional tensions linked to the conflict in Yemen. Family members confirmed the call came from a secure line and that the man appeared to be in stable condition. Indian authorities are said to be in communication with their Yemeni counterparts to facilitate his release and ensure proper consular support. The incident has reignited concerns over maritime security in the Red Sea, where several vessels have faced hostile actions in recent months. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to protect civilian seafarers and restore safe passage through critical trade routes.
News18
09-07-2025
- News18
Why Has Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya Been Sentenced To Death In Yemen?
Last Updated: According to reports, Indian nurse Nimisha Priya she is set to be executed in Yemen on July 16. Nimisha Priya, a 37‑year‑old Indian nurse from Kollengode, Palakkad (Kerala), has been convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner Talal Abdo Mahdi in July 2017. According to reports, she is set to be executed in Yemen on July 16. Human rights activist Samuel Jerome Baskaran, who has been actively involved in outreach to Yemeni authorities and the victim's family, said, 'The public prosecutor has issued the execution order to prison authorities. The execution is set for July 16,"adding that the Government of India can still step in to help save her life. What Is The Nimisha Priya Case? Nimisha Priya is a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who moved to Yemen in 2008 for better career opportunities. Like many Indian nurses working abroad, she was motivated by financial responsibilities back home and took up work in a private hospital in Sana'a. In 2015, Nimisha entered into a business partnership with Mahdi, who agreed to help her run a clinic since Yemeni laws restrict foreign nationals from owning such facilities outright. According to Nimisha and her supporters, Mahdi began to exploit her: confiscating her passport, misappropriating funds, allegedly abusing her physically, and threatening her freedom of movement. In July 2017, Nimisha attempted to sedate Mahdi by injecting him with sedatives to recover her passport. But the dosage proved fatal. Panicked, she and a colleague dismembered Mahdi's body and tried to conceal the crime by disposing of the remains in a water tank. The Arrest, Conviction And Death Sentence Nimisha was arrested at the Yemeni border in August 2017. In 2018, she was tried by a Yemeni criminal court and sentenced to death. The court found that she had premeditated the act of injecting Mahdi with sedatives, illegally administered drugs, causing his unlawful death, dismembered his body and attempted to conceal the crime by hiding the remains in a water tank. According to the court, these actions demonstrated intent, and the subsequent steps she took to cover up the murder further compounded the severity of the offence. Her appeal was rejected by higher courts, and in November 2023, the Supreme Judicial Council confirmed her death sentence. Yemeni authorities, now controlled by the Houthi rebels, approved her execution, scheduling it for July 16, 2025. Legal Dead-End and Diplomatic Hurdles India does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with the Houthi-led administration in Sana'a, making direct government-to-government negotiations difficult. The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that it is 'engaged in efforts" to prevent her execution and continues to provide consular assistance through unofficial channels. Yemen's legal system permits the concept of 'blood money" (diyat) — a form of financial compensation that can lead to a pardon if the victim's family agrees. Nimisha's mother and a group of volunteers have tried to reach out to Mahdi's family with an offer reportedly worth $1 million. However, no response has come so far. Public Appeals and Ongoing Campaigns Multiple NGOs, legal rights groups, and Indian citizens have rallied in Nimisha's support. Campaigns have been launched seeking presidential intervention and urging the Indian government to intensify its efforts. Social worker Samuel Jerome Baskaran has also traveled to Yemen and confirmed that the execution date has been officially set. Her mother, Prema, has written letters pleading for help, and groups have demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervene to save her life, much like the government did in the past in the case of Indian citizen Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan. With just days to go, all eyes are on whether a last-minute reprieve — either through diya payment or a pardon — can prevent Nimisha Priya's execution. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yemen Online
07-06-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
Yemen's Houthis "warn" companies to leave Israel
The Houthis yesterday renewed their warning to all firms investing in Israel, urging them to leave immediately or risk bearing full responsibility for any potential losses. Mahdi Al-Mashat, president of the Supreme Political Council — the highest governing authority in the Houthi-led administration in Sanaa — called on all companies investing in Israel to take the Yemeni warning seriously and to withdraw quickly, stressing that the environment is no longer safe. His remarks were reported by Houthi-run media. 'Companies that remain in the Zionist entity after our warning will have to bear the consequences of their insistence and be held accountable for any losses they may incur,' he added. 'We may take additional decisions in the coming days, if necessary, which would place investment companies within the Zionist entity at real and serious risk.' 'The disregard shown by some investment firms for our forces' warnings makes their operations inside the entity a dangerous gamble, which could come at a heavy cost,' Al-Mashat added. He accused the Israeli occupation government of failing to protect the interests of private companies, saying: 'The criminal Netanyahu government does not care about the safety of investment companies. It gambles with their security to serve its own interests. A government that ignores the lives of its own captives will certainly not care about the safety of others' companies and investments.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran calls for US to withdraw support for Israeli strikes on Yemen
Iran has urged the US to end its support for Israel's continuing strikes on Yemen, claiming Israel is trying to use its conflict with the Houthi-led government to drive a wedge between Iran and the US in the negotiations over the future of Tehran's civil nuclear programme. The strikes have been criticised by the UN-recognised Yemen government based in Aden , which said it had not been consulted and airstrikes alone were not an integrated plan to remove the Houthis from power. Yemen has been divided between the Houthis and the official government since the Houthis captured the capital, Sana'a, in 2015. Israel claimed 20 of its warplanes on Monday had completely destroyed the Houthi-held port of Hodeidah, as well as a nearby cement factory. The Houthis said four people had been killed. On Tuesday, Israel struck Sana'a international airport, warning civilians to leave the area. Related: Strike Houthis while Iran is weak, UN-backed Yemeni government urges west In launching the attacks, probably more extensive than those mounted by the US, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been highlighting Iran's role in arming the Houthis. The Shia group mounted an attack on Ben Gurion airport on Saturday that the Houthis said was an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Israel was shocked that its air defences were penetrated by a single Houthi missile, but Iran believes Israel is escalating the crisis in an attempt to disrupt the negotiations between the US and Iran over its nuclear programme. The talks are due to resume on Sunday. Israel remains opposed to a US-negotiated settlement with Iran that leaves its civil nuclear programme intact, and wants US cooperation in an attack on Iran's nuclear sites. The Iranian foreign ministry on Monday issued a statement insisting the Houthis operate independently from Iran, and was not a proxy army. The ministry said it 'considers the repetition of baseless claims attributing the courageous actions of the Yemeni people in self-defense and support for the Palestinian people to Iran as an insult to this powerful and oppressed nation, and reminds us that it is the US army that, in support of the Zionist regime's genocide, has entered the war against the Yemeni people and is committing war crimes by attacking infrastructure and civilian targets in various cities of this country.' The foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said: 'Netanyahu is brazenly trying to dictate to President Trump what he can and cannot do in his diplomacy with Iran. The world has also learned how Netanyahu is directly interfering in the US government to lead it to another disaster in our region. 'The Netanyahu minority in America, who are terrified of diplomacy, have now revealed their real agenda. The world should take note of what their real priorities are.' The Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baqaei, denounced the strikes as 'a blatant crime and a gross violation of the principles and rules of international law'. Baqaei urged international and regional powers 'to stop the killing and destruction America and Israel are committing in Islamic countries'. The escalation in Yemen represents a further diplomatic difficulty for Iran since support for the Houthi's acts of solidarity with Gaza has featured prominently in Iran's conservative media, and numerous UN reports have documented Iranian arms shipments to the Houthis. But Iran's support for the Houthis, it is argued, hands US Republican hardliners the chance to lobby that Iran's support for resistance groups in the region must form a central part of the US agenda in the talks. Iran has insisted discussions will focus solely on the monitoring of its civil nuclear programme, and the lifting of sanctions. For the past month, conflicting statements from the Trump administration about its requirements for Iran, such as whether it would abandon its domestic uranium enrichment, have disturbed many Iranians. Araghchi has insisted the right to enrich, rather than import uranium, was normal for many signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that Iran's entitlement to enrich was a red line.
