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Hans India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
No pardon for Nimisha, says deceased's brother
New Delhi/Palakkad: Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of Talal Abdo Mehdi, who was allegedly murdered by Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in 2017, has asserted that there can be no pardon for the crime. He said that Nimisha Priya has to be executed. Abdelfattah also expressed firmly the family's deep displeasure in the manner in which the Indian media has been "distorting things to portray the convicted as a victim". Incidentally, Nimisha Priya was to be executed on Wednesday, but following the lengthy period of multipronged negotiations, her execution has been kept in abeyance. Numerous efforts from several quarters, which included full support of the Indian government, besides agencies based in Saudi Arabia and religious intervention from the Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to help mediate, all led to the decision of deferring the execution until further orders.
News18
16-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'No Pardon, It's A Crime': Brother Of Yemeni Man Killed By Kerala Nurse Rejects Clemency
The next phase of negotiations will revolve around finalising the blood money, with Kerala billionaire MA Yusuf Ali stepping forward to offer financial assistance if needed. Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of Talal Abdo Mehdi, who was allegedly murdered by Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in 2017, has firmly rejected the possibility of a pardon for his brother's killer. Speaking to IANS, Abdelfattah stated that 'there can be no pardon" for the crime, and that Priya must face execution as ruled by the Yemeni courts. He also criticised sections of the Indian media, accusing them of 'distorting things to portray the convicted as a victim." Nimisha Priya was scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, but a prolonged phase of multipronged negotiations has led to a temporary suspension of the execution. According to IANS, efforts to defer the sentence have seen wide-ranging interventions from the Indian government, support from agencies based in Saudi Arabia, and religious diplomacy, including outreach by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of Kerala. Musliyar reportedly contacted a personal friend within Yemen's Shoora Council to mediate in the matter. Confirming the development, CPI(M) Kerala state secretary M.V. Govindan, who met Musliyar on Wednesday morning, told reporters, 'Musliyar has told me that the execution has been kept in abeyance, and there are more aspects which are being discussed. He said people are engaged in talks with authorities in Yemen and also the family who has to give the pardon." Under Sharia law, the family of the deceased holds the right to grant clemency in exchange for 'blood money', a legally recognised form of compensation. However, negotiations have become complicated due to reported differences of opinion within the victim's family. Religious leaders and government officials are now focused on resolving these internal divisions to pave the way for a settlement. According to IANS, the next phase of negotiations will revolve around finalising the blood money, with Kerala billionaire MA Yusuf Ali stepping forward to offer financial assistance if needed. Priya, currently lodged in a Yemeni prison, was convicted of murdering her former business partner Talal Mehdi, allegedly by administering sedatives to him in a bid to retrieve her passport. The sedatives proved fatal, and she was arrested while trying to flee the country. Nimisha Priya had moved to Yemen in 2008, initially working as a nurse before opening her own medical clinic. A dispute with Mehdi in 2017 led to the fatal incident. She was convicted of murder in 2018, sentenced to death in 2020, and the verdict was upheld by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, the court allowed the possibility of clemency through a blood money arrangement, which is now the focal point of ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts. 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.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
'No Pardon, It's A Crime': Brother Of Yemeni Man Killed By Kerala Nurse
New Delhi: Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of Talal Abdo Mehdi, who was allegedly murdered by Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in 2017, has asserted that there can be no pardon for the crime. He said that Nimisha Priya has to be executed. Abdelfattah also expressed firmly the family's deep displeasure in the manner in which the Indian media has been "distorting things to portray the convicted as a victim". Incidentally, Nimisha Priya was to be executed on Wednesday, but following the lengthy period of multipronged negotiations, her execution has been kept in abeyance. Numerous efforts from several quarters, which included full support of the Indian government, besides agencies based in Saudi Arabia and religious intervention from the Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to help mediate, all led to the decision of deferring the execution until further orders. State CPI-M secretary M. V. Govindan on Wednesday morning met Musliyar, and negotiations are underway. "Musliyar has told me that the execution has been kept in abeyance, and there are more aspects which are being discussed. He said people are engaged in talks with authorities in Yemen and also the family who has to give the pardon," said Govindan. Meanwhile, the biggest relief that has come is that the execution has been kept in abeyance until further orders. It's the family of the victim that can pardon Nimisha Priya. However, with a difference of opinion surfacing in the family, the religious people involved in the negotiations, besides officials, are trying their best to resolve the issue. The biggest hurdle now seems to be making the family understand the tragedy, and once that's done, the 'blood money' will be handed over. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the next part of the negotiation will centre around the 'blood money' that will be given. For the unversed, 'blood money' is monetary compensation to the family of the person killed in exchange for forgiveness. It is an accepted practice under Sharia law. Kerala billionaire M A Yusuf Ali has expressed his willingness to chip in with whatever financial support is needed. The efforts of the Indian government have been vital, and all eyes are on the negotiations, which are underway in full earnestness. Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen, facing the death penalty for the alleged murder of her former business partner Mehdi, in 2017. Since the announcement of the execution date, politicians across party lines in Kerala have appealed to the Union government and the President for urgent intervention. Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family and initially worked as a nurse before opening her clinic. In 2017, following a dispute with Mehdi -- her business partner -- she allegedly administered sedatives to him in a bid to retrieve her confiscated passport. However, the sedatives proved fatal. She was arrested while attempting to flee the country and was convicted of murder in 2018. A death sentence was handed down in 2020 and upheld by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, the court allowed the possibility of clemency through a blood money arrangement.
India.com
15-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Major relief in Nimisha Priya case: Last-minute negotiations postpone Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen
Major relief in Nimisha Priya case: Last-minute negotiations postpone Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen It was a tense and emotional race against time. Just one day before Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya was supposed to be executed in Yemen, long and careful discussions finally brought a ray of hope as her execution has now been put on hold. This relief came after several people and organizations worked together. The Indian government, some Saudi-based groups, and even the Grand Mufti of Kerala, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, helped in the talks. He even contacted a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to request support. Finally, late on Tuesday, an official order was issued by the Yemeni court and prison authorities, saying the execution would be delayed until further notice. Indian diplomats who were part of the talks said that India has done everything possible to get this temporary relief, and negotiations will now move to the next stage, discussing blood money (a compensation paid to the victim's family under Yemeni law). Nimisha's husband, Tomy Thomas, shared his happiness but added that more efforts are still needed. Sabu M. Jerome, who helped coordinate the peace talks, thanked the governments of Yemen, India, and all others who helped. He also said that many things being reported in the media are not true and strongly praised the huge role played by the Indian government in getting this stay order. Why is Nimisha Priya facing death penalty? Priya is currently in a Yemeni prison facing the death penalty for allegedly killing her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, back in 2017. Her situation became very serious when her execution was scheduled for Wednesday. However, a wave of support and last-minute efforts has given her a chance at life. Talks are underway involving Yemen's Chief Justice, a senior religious leader from the Shoora Council, and members of Mehdi's family. The main goal of the talks is to convince the family to accept 'blood money,' a legal provision under Islamic law where the victim's family can choose to forgive in exchange for compensation. This could delay or cancel the execution. In her hometown in Palakkad, Kerala, local leaders and community members are staying hopeful as discussions continue. Support has also come from high places: Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar spoke to India's Ministry of External Affairs. Kerala's Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, reached out to contacts in Yemen to help mediate. Prominent businessman M.A. Yusuf Ali has offered to provide financial help if needed. Politicians from all parties in Kerala have requested the President of India and the Union government to act urgently. Nimisha Priya's Story: A Life Hanging in the Balance Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to earn a living and support her family. She started by working in hospitals and later opened her own clinic. But things took a tragic turn in 2017 after a serious dispute with her business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi. In an attempt to get back her confiscated passport, Priya allegedly gave him sedatives. Unfortunately, the sedatives caused his death. She was caught while trying to leave Yemen and was arrested. In 2018, she was convicted of murder, and in 2020, she was given the death sentence. Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed this sentence in November 2023. However, the court has left a window open: under Islamic law, if the victim's family agrees, they can accept 'blood money' instead of demanding execution. Nimisha's case has attracted both national and international attention, raising concerns about the safety of Indian workers in war-affected countries. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been a strong voice in this fight. She even travelling to Yemen to try and speak directly with the victim's family. She's not alone. A group of NRI activists and social workers, called the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, is actively working to help her get justice and bring her back home safely. (With IANS inpus)
Hans India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Hectic last-minute talks underway in Yemen to save Kerala nurse from execution
New Delhi/Palakkad: With just hours left for the scheduled execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, frantic last-minute negotiations are underway to secure a reprieve. Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen, facing the death penalty for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017. The talks involve the local Chief Justice of the Yemeni court, a senior cleric from the influential Shoora Council, and members of Mehdi's family. According to a member of the village council in Palakkad, Priya's hometown, discussions have begun with the hope that Mehdi's family will agree to accept blood money -- a provision in Islamic law that could allow her execution, scheduled for Wednesday, to be deferred or cancelled. Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar also intervened and spoke to the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday. A Kerala billionaire, M.A. Yusuf Ali, has expressed his willingness to chip in with whatever financial support is needed. Efforts to intervene further gained momentum, thanks to Kerala's Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to help mediate. Since the announcement of the execution date, politicians across party lines in Kerala have appealed to the Union government and the President of India for urgent intervention. Priya's husband, Tomy Thomas, and their young daughter have also been actively campaigning for her release. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of India on Monday, where the court said that there is nothing much the government can do to save the Kerala nurse. Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family and initially worked as a nurse before opening her own clinic. In 2017, following a dispute with Mehdi -- her business partner -- she allegedly administered sedatives to him in a bid to retrieve her confiscated passport. The sedatives proved fatal. She was arrested while attempting to flee the country and was convicted of murder in 2018. A death sentence was handed down in 2020 and upheld by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, the court allowed the possibility of clemency through a blood money arrangement. The case has sparked national and international concern, underscoring the vulnerability of Indian migrant workers in conflict-ridden regions. Priya's mother, Prema Kumari, has played a central role in the campaign to save her daughter, even travelling to Sanaa to try and negotiate directly with the victim's family. She is being supported by a coalition of NRI activists and social workers operating under the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council.
