Nimisha Priya case: Yemeni family vows no mercy for Kerala nurse, ‘Blood can't be bought… truth is not forgotten'
The execution, originally scheduled for July 16, has been postponed, sources in New Delhi said on Tuesday. Priya, who hails from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, was found guilty of murdering a Yemeni citizen - Talal Abdo Mahdi - in July 2017.
The sources added that the government of India has made concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for Priya's family to reach a "mutually agreeable" solution with the other party.
In the Facebook post, written in Arabic, Abdelfattah Mahdi, brother Talal Abdo Mahdi, said that despite the pressures being imposed on the family to reconcile from all quarters, their demand remains the same — retribution, or execution of Priya.
'What is achieved and heard today from mediation and attempts for peace is nothing new or surprising. Throughout our years, there have been hidden pursuits and efforts to mediate. This is normal and expected...But the pressure has not changed anything in us. Our demand is retribution, nothing else,' Mahdi said, as verified by HT Media.
He stated that although the execution's postponement was "unexpected," it is important for those who tried to intervene to understand that Mahdi's family remains firmly opposed to any attempts at reconciliation.
'Delay won't flex, pressure won't move us and blood cannot be bought. And the truth is not forgotten. Retribution will come no matter how long the road takes. It is just a matter of time and with God's help (it will happen),' he added.
In 2020, a Yemeni court handed Priya the death sentence and the country's Supreme Judicial Council dismissed her appeal in November 2023. The 38-year-old nurse is presently lodged in a jail in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital city that is under the control of Iran-backed Houthis.
In Delhi, sources said the government of India has been rendering all possible assistance in the case since beginning. Priya's mother Premakumari travelled to Yemen last year as part of efforts to secure her release. The Indian side had even explored the option of securing Priya's release through "diyat" or paying "blood money". But that also ran into some problems, it is learnt.
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News18
an hour ago
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'Sensitive Matter, Govt Providing All Help': MEA On Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Case
Last Updated: Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, has been on death row in Yemen for the alleged murder of her former business partner Talal Abdo Mehdi in 2017. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen, has been postponed after sustained diplomatic interventions in recent days aimed at securing a mutually agreeable resolution between Nimisha Priya's family and that of the victim. 'This is a sensitive matter and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case," the MEA said in a briefing, adding, 'We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits and been in constant touch with the local authorities and the family members to resolve the issue." The ministry added that 'concerted efforts in recent days" were made to 'seek more time for the family of Ms. Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party." As a result, Yemeni authorities postponed carrying out the sentence, which was scheduled for July 16, 2025. 'We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments," the MEA added. Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been on death row in Yemen for the alleged murder of her former business partner Talal Abdo Mehdi in 2017. Her execution had been scheduled for July 16 but extensive diplomatic interventions contributed to the temporary reprieve although serious challenges remain. Under Sharia law, the family of the victim holds the right to grant a pardon in exchange for diyah, or blood money. Abdelfattah Mehdi, the brother of the deceased, rejected the possibility of clemency, saying, 'There can be no pardon for the crime." Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse before starting her own clinic. In 2017, she was arrested for allegedly murdering her Yemeni business partner. Investigators claimed she attempted to sedate Talal Abdo Mehdi to retrieve her passport, which he had reportedly taken from her, but the sedatives proved fatal. She was convicted in 2018, sentenced to death in 2020 and the verdict was upheld by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. While the court upheld the sentence, it permitted the option of clemency through the payment of blood money. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 16:25 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.
