Latest news with #Sharia
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
VIDEO: Islamic investment deals in UAE hit $1.53bln
This makes the emirates one of the world's top destinations for investors seeking to align with the principles of Islam.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Consequences if Yemen executes Nimisha Priya
The Sharia law operating in the part of Yemen ruled by the Iran-backed Houthi forces has sentenced the 38-year-old nurse from Kerala to death for murdering her Yemeni business partner. Every plinth in that regime's politico-legal edifice has confirmed the sentence. The Palakkad-born Christian has for the many months now since her arrest and sentencing, been ready to face the firing squad, Yemen's preferred mode of enforcing the death penalty. But whether because India matters, or because Nimisha's case drew almost immediate world attention, or because Iran and Saudi Arabia counselled against the execution, the bullets meant to kill Nimisha have not left their casings yet. The Save Nimisha Priya International Council which has been coordinating her legal defence and Islamic clerics and scholars of repute in Kerala have been active publicly and through personal channels. It seems to me that these efforts will not go in vain and the following four factors will also weigh in for her being spared the firing squad. First, it seems beyond belief that despite the Sharia and the understandable fury of the dead man's family, the powers that be in Sanaa are not aware that death-for-death and blood thirst are looked down upon by the world's gaze. Second, though the authorities in that part of Yemen are not accountable to international norms for human rights, and carry out the death penalty in prodigal numbers and in public, they cannot want to be seen as impervious to world sentiment. Third, the government of India, led as it is by Narendra Modi, with high-achievers by his side such as national security adviser Ajit Doval and minister for external affairs S Jaishankar, is not going to let itself be perceived as one that could not save the life of an Indian woman held in captivity in another country. Likely non-ostentatiously, New Delhi will do its maximum possible to secure her life. Fourth, since one major part of the proceedings is now said to be about blood money, India as the fourth-largest economy in the world, is not going to let itself be seen as short in cash, whether the government participates in the transaction or not. When, for all the reasons cited, Nimisha Priya is saved from death and, with further luck, she returns to India, she will be given a great welcome and there will be many claimants for the credit for her being saved from death. But I could be proved horribly wrong and the foregoing paragraphs will look stupid if Nimisha Priya is executed by the regime in Sanaa. If the worst does transpire, what should India do? It should give Sanaa a taste of its displeasure. Let no one say, 'Oh, this case was not like terrorism, it was not aimed at India, it was not an act against the Indian State or people'. It may not have been that, but if Nimisha is executed, an Indian expatriate would have had her life ended by the action of a political order the world does not recognise as enjoying legal status. And someone belonging to the respected profession of nursing would have been put to death. Is India and are we Indians as a people to let such an outrageous act pass un-responded to? India's status as a country with a booming expatriate population, with nursing forming a notable segment, will look weak in the eyes of all the countries with Indian workers in different capacities. Nimisha's crime is not to be condoned or wished away. Far from it. The way the dead man's body was disposed of was gross. But the extenuating reasons underlying it are not to be ignored either. In a similar thing happening in India, it is reasonable to assume that even if she had been given the death penalty by the lower court, the sentence would have been modified to life imprisonment by the relevant high court or the Supreme Court or, at the highest level of the President of India, acting under the advice of the Cabinet, been commuted. That being so, if Nimisha is executed by a firing squad in a part of Yemen under the control of forces not recognised as the country's legal government, what should India do? Under Operation Raahat, the government of India brought a large number of Indians back from that region. Should India consider getting all Indian nationals still remaining in that part of Yemen – said to be a few thousand – back to India? Even if not all of them are willing to return? Will that hurt Yemen? Whether it does or does not, the point would have been made that India does not trust the safety of its nationals there. And we should drastically restrict trade with that part of Yemen, insignificant though it may be. US president Donald Trump's sweeping tariff restrictions can give us a model to apply in cases where our self-worth has been trifled with. But let me hope my gut feeling is vindicated and these grim responses are not needed. There is, however, another thing that the Nimisha case must make India do, irrespective of how her tragic fate ends. This is to re-energise our demand for the return to India of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is facing the death penalty in Pakistan. Nimisha's case, especially if her execution does not get stopped, should not be allowed to embolden the authorities in Pakistan to execute Jadhav. This is vital. Beyond that, it must make India, a death penalty 'retentionist' albeit in the rarest of rare cases, see how that form of punishment is just wholly out of step with the evolving norms of penology. Gopalkrishna Gandhi is a student of modern Indian history and the author of The Undying Light: A Personal History of Independent India. The views expressed are personal.
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Binance Launches Sharia-compliant Cryptocurrency Staking
Binance has launched Sharia Earn, the world's first multi-token staking service that complies with Islamic finance principles. The cryptocurrency exchange has received certification from Amanie Advisors, a recognised Sharia advisory firm, for the product. The service addresses a market gap in the $4 trillion Islamic finance sector, where millions of Muslims have been unable to participate in decentralised finance due to religious compliance concerns. Sharia Earn enables users to earn passive income from cryptocurrency investments whilst adhering to Islamic law. The platform launches with support for BNB, ETH, and SOL tokens. Users can earn yield through staking mechanisms that have been reviewed by Sharia scholars and approved under Islamic finance principles. Richard Teng, CEO of Binance, said: 'Our mission has always been to create an inclusive and transparent trading environment. With this product we're empowering the Muslim community and Sharia-focused investors to participate in one of the most exciting financial revolutions of our time. This is more than a product – it's a movement toward a more principled and equitable digital economy that promotes financial freedom for all.' The service operates under Islamic finance guidelines that include risk sharing, wealth circulation, prohibition of interest (riba) and excessive uncertainty (gharar). Amanie Advisors has certified that all funds deployed through the platform are channelled into ventures and assets that are halal (permissible) under Islamic law. Binance has built the service using technology from its existing BNB Locked Products, ETH Staking and SOL Staking infrastructure. The mechanics of each staking method have been reviewed by Sharia scholars and operate through a Wakala agreement structure. Sharia Earn will initially be available in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, India, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tunisia, Turkey (.com), United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan. This marks Binance's first entry into Islamic finance products and represents the convergence of blockchain technology with Islamic banking principles. The platform aims to provide transparency and halal compliance for cryptocurrency investments in Muslim-majority markets. Also read: Kuwait Bans Cryptocurrency Mining
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Nimisha Priya will be released! Evangelist KA Paul claims victory after intense diplomatic push in Yemen, thanks PM Modi
Evangelist and Founder of Global Peace Initiative Dr KA Paul on Tuesday night (local time) claimed in a video message from Sanaa in Yemen that the death sentence to Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya has been cancelled after days and nights of extensive efforts by Yemeni and Indian leaders. Dr KA Paul in his video message, he thanked Yemeni leaders for their "powerful and prayerful efforts". Noting that the leaders worked round the clock by engaging in efforts day in night for the last ten days, Dr Paul said, , "I want to thank all the leaders that is involved to make this a great success that Nimisha Priya death is cancelled. By God's grace, she will be released and taken to India. I want to thank Prime Minister Modi ji for preparing to send, your diplomats... and take Nimisha professionally, safely." He also said that they can make logistics arrangement in conjunction with the Government of India for her safe repatriation from the Sanaa prison to Oman, Jeddah, Egypt, Iran or Turkiye. Last week during its weekly press briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had provided details of the actions being taken by the Government for actively working to support Nimisha Priya. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed that the MEA has appointed a lawyer to assist Priya's family in navigating the complex legal process in Yemen. This includes exploring options for clemency or pardon under Sharia law. ""This is a very sensitive matter and the government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal assistance and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged for regular consular visits by her family and we are also in touch with the local authorities, as also the family members to resolve this issue. This included concerted efforts in the recent few days to seek more time for the family of Ms Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The local authorities in Yemen have postponed the carrying out her sentence that was scheduled for July 16," said Jaiswal." The Indian government has arranged for regular consular visits to ensure Priya's well-being and provide her with necessary support during this challenging time. The MEA's remarks came after the Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram, said on Tuesday that he spoke to scholars in Yemen to urge them for the release of 37-year-old Nimisha Priya, convicted of murder and set to be executed. The Grand Mufti claims that after his talks, the news of the execution being postponed also came in, suggesting possible influence of religious outreach alongside official diplomatic efforts. "In Islam, instead of killing, there is also a practice of giving Diya (compensation). I requested them to accept Diyaat as the party is ready here for it. There are talks going on about whether my request has to be accepted. The date of execution was tomorrow, but it has now been postponed for some days," the Grand Mufti told ANI. He further said he is not considering the religion of Priya, but rather her humanity as he requested for her release, bringing an emotional and humanitarian appeal into the discourse around the case. The Grand Mufti's statement came after sources told ANI earlier that the execution was postponed following the "concerted efforts" by the Government of India. The execution had been scheduled for July 16, and the delay has opened a window for further dialogue. The 37-year-old nurse from Kerala was set to be executed on July 16 after a trial court in Yemen convicted her of killing a Yemeni national, a decision that the country's Supreme Judicial Council upheld in November 2023. Last week, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had expressed relief and optimism over the postponement of the execution of Nimisha Priya. Vijayan acknowledged the persistent efforts and intervention of Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musliyar and others, including the Action Council, who have been working tirelessly to seek justice for her.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
After Blood Money Rejection, Nimisha Priya Still Has 5 Possible Ways To Avoid Execution
Last Updated: India is offering Nimisha Priya free legal aid, consular access, and visa support, while sending experts to Yemen and applying diplomatic pressure via Iran and Gulf allies In a major setback for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, the family of Yemeni murder victim Talal Abdo Mahdi has refused to accept blood money, demanding the death penalty instead. Nimisha Priya's case dates back to 2017 and has since progressed through the local court and Yemen's Supreme Court, both of which upheld her death sentence. Originally scheduled to be hanged on July 16, the execution was postponed, and the next hearing is set for August 14. Efforts to secure blood money compensation continue, but with limited alternatives available, the situation remains dire. What Are Nimisha Priya's Options? Under Yemeni Sharia law, one prominent way to avert the death penalty is through blood money. However, with the victim's family's refusal, Nimisha Priya is now exploring other options: What The Indian Government Is Doing The Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy are providing Nimisha Priya with legal assistance, visa support, and consular visits at no cost. A team, including legal experts and Sharia scholars, is being sent to Yemen. Additionally, diplomatic pressure is being applied through friendly countries in Iran and the Gulf. How Much Influence Does India Have On The Houthis? The Indian government's influence on the Houthi rebels is limited and indirect, but certain strategic and diplomatic channels still offer scope for dialogue or pressure. The Houthis, a Shia Zaydi rebel group, control large parts of northern and western Yemen and function as the de facto government in those areas. They are widely believed to be backed by Iran. Can Iran Help? Given Iran's strong influence over the Houthi rebels, it's possible that India could leverage its cordial ties with Tehran to open a diplomatic channel and seek a resolution. However, it remains uncertain whether Iran views this as a priority issue and would be willing to intervene on India's behalf. view comments 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.
