Latest news with #SaveNimishaPriyaInternationalActionCouncil
India.com
10 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Flicker Of Hope: Indian Grand Mufti Steps In As Kerala Nurse Faces Gallows – Crucial Talks Underway IN Yemen's Sanaa
New Delhi/Sanaa: Urgent diplomatic and legal efforts are underway to stop the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing death sentenced in Yemen. Her execution is scheduled for July 16. The Supreme Court of India on July 14 heard a petition seeking intervention in the case, while parallel talks continue in Yemen between local authorities, tribal leaders and representatives from India. The petition was filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a group campaigning to prevent her execution. During the Supreme Court hearing, Attorney General R. Venkataramani informed the bench that 'the Government of India is doing whatever is utmost possible' but highlighted that 'having regard to the sensitivity and status of Yemen as a place, there is nothing much the the government can do'. Meanwhile, negotiations are underway in Yemen's capital of Sanaa involving tribal leaders, judicial representatives and religious scholars. The talks are being attended by Habeeb Abdurahman Ali Mashhour, who is a representative of Shaikh Habeeb, along with a judge from the Jinayat court, representatives of the Yemeni government, tribal leaders and Talal's brother. The initiative was launched following a direct appeal by Indian Grand Mufti and All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama General Secretary Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who requested the victim's family to pardon Priya without seeking blood money (diya). A statement issued from Kanthapuram's office expressed hope that the outcome of the discussions may be known soon. Originally from Palakkad district in Kerala, Priya was convicted in 2020 by a Yemeni court for the murder of her business partner, whom she allegedly drugged and killed in July 2017, with the assistance of another nurse. According to Yemeni court documents, she then dismembered his body and disposed of the parts in an underground water tank. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023, and she is currently held at the Central Prison in Sanaa. The Indian government continues to monitor the case, but its capacity to intervene directly remains limited, as India does not currently have an operational embassy in Yemen due to the ongoing civil conflict there. The Supreme Court case, diplomatic appeals and tribal negotiations in Yemen are all unfolding simultaneously in a bid to prevent her execution. The situation remains fluid and a final decision from either side is awaited.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nimisha Priya case: The last-minute efforts to save Malayali nurse from execution in Yemen
The story so far: Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row at the Central prison in Yemen's capital Sanaa for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national, is scheduled to be executed on July 16, according to unconfirmed reports. The Supreme Court on July 14, 2025 (Monday) heard a plea filed by Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, an organisation fighting to save her life from the gallows. The Centre told the apex court that 'the Government of India is doing whatever is utmost possible' in the matter. Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a Supreme Court Bench that 'having regard to the sensitivity and status of Yemen as a place, there is nothing much the Government of India can do.' The news about her reported execution emerged in the public domain after Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council who has been based in Yemen since 1999, told the media last week that he had received a message from the chairman of the central prison in Sanaa that Nimisha's execution has been scheduled on July 16. The counsel representing the council in the apex court had stated that the option to pay 'blood money (diyah)' to the murdered man's family and be pardoned for the crime was still open. How did she end up behind the bars? Nimisha, a native of Kollengode in Palakkad district, had left for Yemen in 2008 with dreams of securing a better future for her parents, who worked as domestic helps. She joined as a nurse at a government-run hospital in Sanaa initially. She worked there until 2011, before returning to Kerala to marry Tomy Thomas, a native of Thodupuzha in Idukki district. The civil war that resulted in the Houthi rebels with links to Iran gaining control over Sanaa in September 2014 shattered her dreams. The Government of India issued an advisory in April 2015 asking Indian nationals not to travel to Yemen owing to the adverse political and security situation triggered by the rift between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen. Though she left for Yemen a month earlier before the internal strife escalated, her husband and daughter had to stay back in Kerala in view of the visa restrictions. In 2015, Nimisha quit her low-paying hospital job to start her own clinic. However, Yemeni law required its nationals to own and operate businesses, forcing her to partner with Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi to set up the venture. A petition filed by Nimisha's mother, Premakumari, in December 2023 before the Delhi High Court, seeking the Centre's permission to visit her daughter, stated that her relationship with Mahdi deteriorated over time after he allegedly began torturing her and siphoned off all the clinic's revenue. In July 2017, desperate for a way out, Nimisha sought advice from a jail warden near her clinic where Mahdi had previously been imprisoned for various offences. The warden suggested sedating Mahdi to recover her passport. However, an apparent overdose resulted in his death. Nearly a month later, Nimisha was arrested near Yemen's border with Saudi Arabia after Mahdi's dismembered body was discovered in a water tank. She was sentenced to death by a trial court in Sanaa in 2020 and the Houthi Supreme Council had dismissed her appeal in November 2023 while keeping the option of paying blood money open. What were the measures initiated to secure her release from prison? The efforts to release her from prison gained momentum after the formation of Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council. The collective, comprising elected representatives, lawyers and human rights activists, was formed to ensure Nimisha's access to justice and raise funds for blood money — the compensation paid to the victim's family in accordance with Shariah law — should the victim's family agree to pardon her. Their intervention also helped Premakumari to travel to Yemen to meet her daughter in prison and seek pardon for her with the family of Mahdi. The Delhi High Court, on a plea filed by her and the council, asked the Centre in December 2023 to relax its 2017 notification, which barred Indian passport holders from travelling to Yemen. She has been staying with Samuel Jerome since April 23, 2024. The Ministry of External Affairs had announced on December 31, 2024, that the Government of India was extending all possible assistance to Nimisha. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene with Yemeni authorities and save her. Why did the attempts to halt her death sentence fail to yield expected results? The case had posed significant challenges due to India's lack of official ties with the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels. The hurdles in reaching out to the family of the victim also delayed the efforts. Samuel had claimed in December last that the negotiations came to a halt following the release in the delay of the second instalment of the fee asked by the lawyer engaged on behalf of Nimisha to carry out the talks with the family members and tribal leaders. However, the council had clarified that the lawyer had demanded a total of about 40,000 dollars as pre-negotiation fee. About 20,000 dollars were transferred to him through the Indian Embassy in Yemen in July 2024. Subhash Chandran K. R., member of the council and Supreme Court lawyer, had then said that the release of the second instalment was put on hold as the council had asked the lawyer to update on the progress of the negotiations and the details about how the initial funding was utilised. It was later transferred in December, 2024, he said. What are the options left before Nimisha? The options before her are limited as the execution can be halted only if the family of the victim agreed to pardon her. There has been no official word still on any such response from them. Samuel had said last week that the prison authorities would not have scheduled the execution date without informing the family of the victim, indicating that they have given their consent. There was also no word yet on whether the family had demanded any blood money.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Unfortunate, But There Is A Limit To What We Can Do": Centre On Nurse Execution Case
New Delhi: India can't do much more to stop the execution of Nimisha Priya - the Kerala nurse sentenced to death by Yemen for killing a man harassing her - the Supreme Court was told Monday. "It is unfortunate... there is a point till which we can go. We have reached it," Attorney General R Venkataramani said. The counsel for the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council' seemed at a loss too; they told Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta this afternoon, "The only way is if the family (of the Yemeni man) agrees to accept the 'blood money' (i.e., financial compensation)." The Yemeni man's family has been offered $1 million, or Rs 8.5 crore, but this has not been accepted so far. The Attorney Genera said the family had refused the money "as it is a question of honour". Ms Priya is scheduled to be executed July 16, i.e., Wednesday. Earlier today the Attorney General told the court the government had done everything it could in what is "a very complex case". "There is not much the Government of India can do," he said. "We tried whatever was possible... we tried our best without going very public about it. It is unfortunate. But there is a limit to the functions of a government," he told the court. The court asked the Attorney General if the Indian government could add its weight to the 'blood money' offer, i.e., negotiate a settlement with the family of the man who was killed, but a rueful Attorney General said any financial compensation offered can only be a personal gesture. In response to the petitioner asking for "someone from the government to go and talk to the family... to accept the 'blood money'" - which they offered to increase too - the Attorney General replied, "There is a point till wich the Government of India can go... we have reached it." The federal government said that as part of its efforts to stop Ms Priya's execution it had spoken to the public prosecutor involved and "got involved with a Sheikh (who is) influential there". "But it has not worked. Nothing matters to the Yemen government. We even got informal communication her execution would be put on hold... but we don't know if it will work out. This is not an area where the government can be asked to do something beyond a defined limit." READ | 'Pardon By Yemeni Man's Family Only Real Hope For Nimisha': Activist "They (the petitioners) say 'blood money' has been arranged," Justice Mehta said, to which the Attorney General replied, "But they (the Yemen man's family) said it is question of honour. We don't know if this will change with more money. But, as of now, standstill." Nimisha Priya Case Ms Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 in search of a more lucrative job to support her parents. After working in several hospitals she started her own clinic, and to comply with Yemeni laws, took on a local business partner, 37-year-old Talal Abdo Mehdi. However, Mr Mehdi constantly harassed her and, according to Ms Priya, stole money from her. He also seized her passport, meaning she couldn't even leave the country to escape him. In 2017 Ms Priya injected him with a sedative she hoped would incapacitate him long enough for her to recover the passport. However, Mehdi died and she was arrested trying to flee Yemen. NDTV Explains | Why Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Is To Be Executed In Yemen Under Yemeni law 'blood money' is the main punishment for unintentional killing. Also called 'diya', its acceptance means the waiver of the right to 'qisas', i.e., the 'eye for an eye' principle. This 'pardon' can be accepted at any time before the execution. Babu John, an activist leading efforts on behalf of Ms Priya, told NDTV the Indian government had appointed a Yemeni lawyer to represent her in courts there, but that all the petitions were dismissed. The conviction, he said, had been upheld by that country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023 and the President of Yemen had approved the death sentence.
Yemen Online
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Family of Nimisha Priya offers $1 million 'blood money' to Yemen man's kin in final hope
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen, faces execution on July 16 for the alleged 2018 murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi approved her execution earlier this year. In a final effort to save her, Nimisha Priya's family has offered $1 million ( ₹8.6 crore) as 'blood money' to the victim's family under Yemen's Sharia law, which allows for the possibility of pardon in such cases. Speaking to NDTV on Friday, Babu John, an activist with the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, said, 'The status is that the power of attorney holder for Nimisha's family, Samuel Jerome, who is already in Yemen's Sana'a, is leading the negotiation from our side. It took many months to negotiate, and we have proposed $1 million to save Nimisha Priya. The Yemeni man's family has not said yes or no. Once the family says yes, we will mobilise the funds and give them to the family if they are ready to pardon Nimisha.' He further explained, "That is the important thing. Apart from the money, within the Sharia law, which is prevailing in Yemen, we are requesting the family to pardon Nimisha for whatever she did or whatever she is accused of. If the family is ready to pardon with or without money... anyway we are ready to pay $1 million. That is the offer.' As her family and the Indian government continue negotiations, the 'blood money' or 'diya' remains the only realistic legal route for securing a pardon and halting her execution.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Family of Nimisha Priya, on death row, offers $1 million 'blood money' to Yemen man's kin in final hope
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse on death row in Yemen, faces execution on July 16 for the alleged 2018 murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi approved her execution earlier this year. Nimisha Priya, 37, from Kerela is jailed in a region of Yemen and set for execution on July 16.(File Photo) In a final effort to save her, Nimisha Priya's family has offered $1 million ( ₹8.6 crore) as 'blood money' to the victim's family under Yemen's Sharia law, which allows for the possibility of pardon in such cases. Speaking to NDTV on Friday, Babu John, an activist with the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, said, 'The status is that the power of attorney holder for Nimisha's family, Samuel Jerome, who is already in Yemen's Sana'a, is leading the negotiation from our side. It took many months to negotiate, and we have proposed $1 million to save Nimisha Priya. The Yemeni man's family has not said yes or no. Once the family says yes, we will mobilise the funds and give them to the family if they are ready to pardon Nimisha.' Also Read | SC to hear plea to halt execution of Kerala nurse in Yemen on July 14 He further explained, "That is the important thing. Apart from the money, within the Sharia law, which is prevailing in Yemen, we are requesting the family to pardon Nimisha for whatever she did or whatever she is accused of. If the family is ready to pardon with or without money... anyway we are ready to pay $1 million. That is the offer.' As her family and the Indian government continue negotiations, the 'blood money' or 'diya' remains the only realistic legal route for securing a pardon and halting her execution. What is 'bloody money'? Under Islamic Sharia law, 'blood money' or diya refers to financial compensation offered by an accused individual to the victim's family in cases of serious crimes, such as murder. The law categorises murder into two types: intentional and accidental. In cases of intentional killing, Sharia law prescribes the death penalty or a punishment that matches the gravity of the crime. As stated in the text, "But if it is not a willful murder but a murder by mistake, the punishment according to verse (4:92) is ransom money (blood money). But if a remission is made by the heirs of the slain out of their own goodwill, they are allowed to do so. In such a case, it is incumbent on the murderer to abide by what has been settled and pay it in a commendable manner." This provision is particularly relevant in Yemen, a country that adheres strictly to Islamic Sharia law, making the option of diya significant in cases like Nimisha Priya's. Under this system, the decision regarding the offender's fate rests entirely with the victim's family. While Sharia law does not set a specific amount for diya, it allows for negotiations between the two parties to determine the compensation.
