Latest news with #PublicProsecutionofSpecializedCriminalCourt
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Who is Nimisha Priya? Kerala nurse faces death in Yemen as victim's family refuses pardon under islamic law Qisas
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 is the verdict given by the Public Prosecution of Specialized Criminal Court, Republic of Yemen, today. 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.
News18
16-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Nimisha Priya Timeline: Went To Yemen To Earn Living, May Have To Pay To Get Life Back
Last Updated: Nimisha Priya Timeline: The Kerala nurse was to be executed for the murder of her business partner on Wednesday, but it has been deferred for now From question of livelihood to life, Nimisha Priya's journey as a nurse from Kerala to Yemen has taken the most unusual turn. The execution of Nimisha Priya, who has been convicted for murder of her business partner, was to happen on Wednesday, but has been deferred for now. The government and others, including Grand Mufti of India , are trying to negotiate a deal, one of the clauses of which could be payment of blood money amounting to Rs 8.5 crore. A look at how the 38-year-old went from Kerala to the jail in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital city that is under the control of Iran-backed Houthis. Nimisha Priya's Timeline: Kerala Nurse, A Yemen Clinic To Death Row 2008: Priya, who hails from Kollengode in Pallakad, then around 20, moves to Yemen to work as a nurse, a common trend among professionals from Kerala. 2011: She gets married to Tomy Thomas, a fellow Malayali. The daughter is now a college student. While Tomy and the daughter later move back to India, reportedly due to financial constraints, Priya stays back. After the Arab Spring, Ali Abdullah Saleh's 33-year rule over Yemen ends as he handed over power to deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. 2016: Priya reports harassment and document seizure by Mehdi, but reportedly does not receive police help. Her passport is withheld by Mehdi and he allegedly abuses her. 2017: Priya attempts to recover her passport by sedating Mehdi, but he dies of what is cited as overdose, according to authorities. His dismembered and disposed of body is found in a water tank. Priya is arrested near the Yemen-Saudi border while trying to flee. 2018: Priya is convicted of murder by a local trial court and given the death sentence. She did not get adequate legal assistance, say reports. 2020: Her death sentence is upheld by a higher court. The Malayali Indian diaspora forms 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council' to save her. 2023: Priya's final appeal against the death sentence is dismissed by Houthi Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council. 2024: Priya's family negotiates with the victim's family over blood money or diyah, a concept in Sharia, the Islamic law, that allows the victim's family to pardon the killer in return for monetary compensation. The execution of Nimisha Priya, which was scheduled to take place tomorrow (16/07/25), has been postponed to another is the verdict given by the Public Prosecution of Specialized Criminal Court, Republic of Yemen, today. — Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad الشيخ أبوبكر أحمد (@shkaboobacker) July 15, 2025 July 14, 2025: As the execution date of July 16 nears, the Indian government informs the Supreme Court that it had done whatever was 'utmost possible" to save the Indian nurse from execution. It also informs the top court that 'nothing much" could be done keeping in view the status of Yemen. 'There is a point up to which the Government of India can go and we have reached that point," attorney general R Venkataramani informs a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. Meanwhile, a staggering offer of $1 million (approximately Rs 8.5 crore) is reportedly made to Mehdi's family by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council. July 15: Amid negotiations, Muslim cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar or Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, 94, who is revered as the 'Grand Mufti of India', says he spoke to scholars in Yemen, hours after which Priya's execution is deferred. The new date is still to be announced. July 16: Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of Mehdi firmly rejects the possibility of a pardon for his brother's killer. Meanwhile, Priya and her family continue to hold on to hope. First Published: July 16, 2025, 20:01 IST 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.
