Latest news with #TalalAbdoMahdi
News18
8 hours 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.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Nimisha Priya case: Blood money and the cost of forgiveness
KOCHI: On July 14, the Centre told the Supreme Court that reaching a blood money settlement is the only option left for saving Nimisha Priya, an Indian citizen on death row in. The woman, a trained nurse from Kerala who opened her own clinic in Sanaa in partnership with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, was convicted of murdering her business partner in 2017. She was sentenced to death after an allegedly shoddy trial conducted in Arabic, without being provided an interpreter or proper legal counsel. Since then, the 38-year-old woman has been languishing in a jail in the Yemeni capital city, which is under the control of the Houthi rebels. She was due to be executed on July 16, but it was postponed amid intense backchannel negotiations to save her from the jaws of death. The pause in the execution, though a temporary relief, has opened a new window of hope to try and secure pardon from the victim's family, which will pave the way for her release from prison. However, at least one member of Mahdi's family has so far refused to do so. Efforts are on to convince them to accept blood money and pardon Priya. A lifeline Under Islamic law, victims of crimes, or their families, can have a say in the punishment of the offender. In case of a murder, the victim's kin can 'forgive' the accused in exchange for monetary compensation, known as diyah or blood money. While grieving families are prone to seek vengeance, accepting blood money is encouraged to bring an amicable closure to the case. The concept is rooted in the idea that it can end the cycle of violence by promoting reconciliation, justice, and mercy. The aim is to provide financial support to the affected family while encouraging forgiveness and maintaining social peace. It is not about punishment but balancing justice with compassion, emphasising the value of mercy alongside accountability. While there is no concept of blood money under Indian laws, it is an accepted legal practice in several Islamic countries including Yemen. These countries give an opportunity to the victim's family to pardon the offender in exchange for monetary compensation. If diyah is accepted, then the death sentence will be lifted, though the accused may have to spend time in jail if the government decides to go ahead with other forms of punishment. The process varies from country to country and can be complicated if the case involves foreigners. Usually, the victim's immediate family members are approached, through mediators — clerics, NGOs, or government departments— to persuade them to issue pardon. It often takes multiple rounds of meetings mediated by multiple stakeholders to secure pardon and arrive at the amount of blood money.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Blood money: Forgiveness for a price
KOCHI: On July 14, the Centre told the Supreme Court that reaching a blood money settlement is the only option left for saving Nimisha Priya, an Indian citizen on death row in. The woman, a trained nurse from Kerala who opened her own clinic in Sanaa in partnership with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, was convicted of murdering her business partner in 2017. She was sentenced to death after an allegedly shoddy trial conducted in Arabic, without being provided an interpreter or proper legal counsel. Since then, the 38-year-old woman has been languishing in a jail in the Yemeni capital city, which is under the control of the Houthi rebels. She was due to be executed on July 16, but it was postponed amid intense backchannel negotiations to save her from the jaws of death. The pause in the execution, though a temporary relief, has opened a new window of hope to try and secure pardon from the victim's family, which will pave the way for her release from prison. However, at least one member of Mahdi's family has so far refused to do so. Efforts are on to convince them to accept blood money and pardon Priya. A lifeline Under Islamic law, victims of crimes, or their families, can have a say in the punishment of the offender. In case of a murder, the victim's kin can 'forgive' the accused in exchange for monetary compensation, known as diyah or blood money. While grieving families are prone to seek vengeance, accepting blood money is encouraged to bring an amicable closure to the case. The concept is rooted in the idea that it can end the cycle of violence by promoting reconciliation, justice, and mercy. The aim is to provide financial support to the affected family while encouraging forgiveness and maintaining social peace. It is not about punishment but balancing justice with compassion, emphasising the value of mercy alongside accountability. While there is no concept of blood money under Indian laws, it is an accepted legal practice in several Islamic countries including Yemen. These countries give an opportunity to the victim's family to pardon the offender in exchange for monetary compensation. If diyah is accepted, then the death sentence will be lifted, though the accused may have to spend time in jail if the government decides to go ahead with other forms of punishment. The process varies from country to country and can be complicated if the case involves foreigners. Usually, the victim's immediate family members are approached, through mediators — clerics, NGOs, or government departments— to persuade them to issue pardon. It often takes multiple rounds of meetings mediated by multiple stakeholders to secure pardon and arrive at the amount of blood money.
Russia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
India giving ‘all possible assistance' to nurse on death row in Yemen
New Delhi is offering 'all possible assistance' for Nimisha Priya, a 36-year old nurse who is on death row in Yemen for murdering her business partner, Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. The authorities in Yemen have postponed her execution, which was scheduled for Wednesday, following the intervention of Indian officials, private citizens and an influential Muslim cleric from Nimisha's home state of Kerala. 'We have provided legal assistance, and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family,' Jaiswal said in a press briefing, adding that India has also arranged for regular consular visits for her family. While coordinating with the Yemeni authorities, India is also 'in touch with some friendly governments in this regard,' the spokesman said without specifying the countries. VIDEO | Delhi: Responding to a question on the case of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia), while addressing a press briefing, said:"This is a sensitive matter. The Government of India has been providing all possible assistance. We have… Jaiswal added that Indian assistance included 'concerted efforts within the last few days to seek more time for the family of Miss Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party.' Nimisha was arrested in July 2017 for poisoning Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni with whom she opened a clinic in 2015. She was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2020. Her final appeal was dismissed by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Nimisha's only recourse is to offer the victim's clan 'blood money' as a form of financial compensation in exchange for freedom. While crowdsourcing efforts from the Indian diaspora have managed to raise more than $40,000 for the initial negotiation, Mahdi's family are not willing to accept compensation. 'The pressures we've faced haven't changed us,' Mahdi's brother, Talal Abdul Fattah Mahdi, wrote in a social media post in Arabic, according to the News Laundry website. 'Our demand is clear: retribution, and nothing else, no matter what.' On Friday, India's Supreme Court allowed Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a private organization trying to secure the release of Nimisha, to approach the Indian government for permission to travel to Yemen for negotiations to stall her execution. Indians are presently banned from visiting the war-torn country.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Victim's family refuses to pardon Indian nurse on death row in Yemen: ‘Blood cannot be bought'
The family of a Yemeni man killed by an Indian nurse has refused to grant her a pardon, dashing hopes of her family to negotiate a deal that will save her from execution. Talal Abdo Mahdi's brother said they 'reject any form of settlement' and that 'blood cannot be bought', a day after the execution of Nimisha Priya was postponed following a pressure campaign to buy time for clemency. Priya, 38, from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was found guilty of murdering her business partner in 2017 and was sentenced to death in 2020. Priya has denied killing Mahdi, whose chopped-up remains were found in a water tank. 'We were not surprised by the recent delay in the execution, though we did not expect it. Those who intervened know full well that we reject any form of settlement,' Mahdi's brother Abdelfattah Mahdi said in a Facebook post. 'Justice, for us, means execution. No amount of pressure or delay will alter that. Blood cannot be bought,' Abdelfattah Mahdi stated. He added that while the execution had been postponed, the family would persist until justice is served, 'with God's help.' The brother said he was not surprised by the attempts to delay the execution, saying there were 'covert attempts at mediation'. 'But the pressure we faced did not change us. Our demand is clear: qisas (the principle of retaliation in kind), and nothing else, no matter what.' It came a day after the president of Yemen, Rashad al-Alimi, postponed the execution of Priya a day prior to Wednesday, when she was set to be executed. The postponement of the sentencing was only a temporary relief for Priya, as only a pardon by the victim's family can save her from the imminent execution. According to Yemen's Islamic judicial system, murder, drug trafficking, apostasy, adultery, and same-sex relations are punished by death and it allows a murder convict to be pardoned by the victim's kin in exchange for diyat, or 'blood money '. Her family in India has said they have already raised $1m (£735,000) and offered the money to Mahdi's family, which is reluctant to pardon her. Priya arrived in Yemen to work as a nurse in 2008. She launched a clinic in partnership with Mehdi, in line with Yemeni law that required foreign entrepreneurs to collaborate with citizens. However, she was arrested in 2017 after Mahdi was murdered and his body was found in a tank. Her family previously alleged that Priya faced mental, physical and financial abuse at his hands. She had even filed a police complaint against him in 2016, leading to his brief arrest. He allegedly resumed threatening her after getting out. The family has denied the allegations. In 2020, a local court sentenced her to death. The decision was challenged in the Supreme Court but the appeal was rejected in 2023. The nurse's mother, a domestic worker in Kochi city, has been in Yemen for the past year trying to save her daughter. The woman remains imprisoned in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which is under the control of Houthi forces.
