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The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Setback for efforts to save Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen as victim's family refuses pardon
A native of Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha was convicted by a Yemeni court in 2017 for the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, her business partner in setting up a clinic in Sana'a in 2015. Originally scheduled 16 July, Nimisha's execution was stayed Tuesday following mediation efforts initiated by Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the General Secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama and Chancellor of Jamia Markaz. The efforts were made through Yemeni Sufi Islamic scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz. Thiruvananthapuram: A day after making progress by securing a stay on the execution in Yemen, the fate of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya continues to hang in the balance, as the victim's family remains reluctant to grant a pardon. However, the mediation process hit a roadblock again Wednesday, after the victim's brother expressed unwillingness to offer pardon. The discussion is continuing in Yemen on Thursday between the representatives of Sheikh Habib and the Mahdi's family. Abdelfattah Mahdi, the brother of Talal, said in a Facebook post that the discussions have not changed their stand on the matter. 'In any case, what comes after the execution date has been set is harder than what came before. We will follow through with the execution until it is carried out. No postponement will deter us, and no pressure will shake us. Blood cannot be bought… justice cannot be forgotten… and retribution will come, no matter how long the road, it's only a matter of time, and we seek help from God,' he wrote Wednesday in Arabic. According to Sharia law, a person convicted of murder in Yemen can be spared execution if all legal heirs of the victim agree to grant pardon, usually in exchange for 'diya' or blood money. Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., a member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, confirmed to ThePrint that the talks can proceed only if all family members agree to pardon Nimisha. He said discussions on blood money have not begun due to the family's hesitation. Talal, according to the petition filed by the Council in the Supreme Court, allegedly began embezzling funds and torturing Nimisha soon after the clinic was established. He also seized her documents. Acting on the advice of a warden at a local prison where Mahdi had previously been jailed, Nimisha reportedly attempted to sedate him to recover her documents. He died of an overdose in the process. Nimisha had moved to Yemen in 2008 to work at a private hospital. Her husband and daughter returned to Kerala in 2014 due to financial constraints and visa issues that arose amid the ongoing civil war. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Will do whatever we can, says Iranian official on Nimisha Priya, nurse facing death sentence in Yemen
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
The Anguish Of Nimisha Priya And The Imperative Of Compassion
My heart, like those of countless fellow Keralites, is heavy with the plight of Nimisha Priya. This young woman, a daughter of our soil, finds herself ensnared in a legal quagmire of the most profound and perilous nature in Yemen, facing the grim prospect of the gallows. It is a predicament that transcends mere jurisprudence; it is a deeply human tragedy, especially for her family - parents, husband and child - resonating with the universal fear of losing a loved one to circumstances far beyond their control. Death Of A Dream Nimisha's story is, sadly, one that epitomises the hopes and vulnerabilities of many Keralites who seek opportunity in distant lands. She embarked for Yemen with dreams of a better future, a future for herself and, crucially, for her family back in Kerala. Yet, these dreams tragically transmuted into a nightmare, culminating in the death of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Though it seems this individual, her employer and partner, was harassing and abusing her, leading to her alleged criminal killing of him, her subsequent conviction and death sentence remains inexpressibly tragic. While the intricacies of the Yemeni legal system, particularly its adherence to Sharia law, are profoundly different from our own, the immediate human crisis demands our utmost attention and empathy. A Complex Situation The core of her precarious situation lies in the concept of 'blood money' or diya - a pathway to pardon recognised under Sharia law, whereby the victim's family may accept financial compensation in lieu of execution. Indians' collective efforts, both governmental and private, have been tirelessly directed towards this avenue. The family has not so far accepted the amounts offered and is insisting on her execution. The reported postponement of her execution, originally scheduled for today - albeit a temporary deferral - offers a flicker of hope, a precious window of opportunity that we must seize with every fibre of our being. The path to her possible reprieve has been fraught, to say the least. Our Ministry of External Affairs has been doing its best, in circumstances complicated by the Civil War in Yemen and the irregular situation of the authorities holding her, as well as by the fact that the Indian Embassy has been relocated out of the country because of the grim political and security situation there, and is operating from a camp office in Djibouti in North Africa since April 2015. This operational constraint, born of dire necessity, has unfortunately hampered the efficacy of our diplomatic overtures thus far. The Intervention Of The Grand Mufti It is within this challenging landscape that a new, vital beacon of hope has emerged. The intervention of the Grand Mufti of India, Ustad Kanthapuram A.P. Abubakar Musliyar, the esteemed General Secretary of All India Sunni Jamiatul Ulama and Chancellor of Jamia Markaz, through his long-standing friendship with the revered Yemeni Sufi Islamic scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, offers a slender ray of hope and even optimism. All of Kerala now unites in fervent prayer for the success of his crucial efforts. In an era increasingly characterised by attempts to divide people and foster hatred and animosity in the name of religion and community, the venerable Kanthapuram Ustad has delivered a powerful and timely message. His humanitarian initiative underscores a fundamental truth: that humanity stands paramount above all divisions of religion, gender or community. It is a testament to the enduring power of compassion and cross-cultural understanding in navigating even the most intractable of crises. This is not about condoning any alleged wrongdoing, but about upholding the fundamental human right to life, and exploring every conceivable diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure her reprieve. It is a stark reminder of the complexities inherent in the lives of our citizens who seek their fortunes abroad, often in regions fraught with political instability and distinct legal frameworks. The case of Nimisha Priya compels us to reflect on the imperative of robust consular support and proactive engagement in safeguarding the interests of our diaspora. Our government has, commendably, stated its commitment to doing "whatever is utmost possible", and indeed, the latest intervention by such a respected religious figure has bought us invaluable time. We Need A Diplomatic Offensive As a public representative from her home state, my plea is not merely for bureaucratic intervention, but for a concerted, compassionate, and indefatigable diplomatic offensive. We must ensure that every conceivable effort is made to engage with the victim's family, to appeal to their sense of forbearance, and to facilitate any viable resolution through the established legal and customary pathways in Yemen. This is a moment that calls for the very best of Indian diplomacy and humanitarian outreach. We owe it to Nimisha Priya, and to every Indian citizen abroad, to exhaust every avenue to bring her home, or at the very least, to save her life. For in saving one life, we reaffirm our collective humanity - and our solidarity with every Indian in distress, wherever she may be, anywhere in the world. (Shashi Tharoor has been a Member of Parliament from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, since 2009. He is an author and a former diplomat.) Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author
Mint
5 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Nimisha Priya Case: How Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad intervened to defer Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen
Nimisha Priya Case: The execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been on death row in Yemen since 2020, was deferred on July 15, a day before the scheduled date. This confirmation came a day after Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, the general secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama and chancellor of Jamia Markaz, initiated a new mediation effort through his long-time friend and Yemeni Sufi Islamic scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz. The 94-year-old Musliyar, who is officially known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad and is revered as 'Grand Mufti of India,' held talks with religious authorities in Yemen, who were in contact with the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, the Yemeni national she allegedly killed in 2017. On Tuesday, Abubakr announced, a press statement, that the scheduled execution has been officially postponed following his humanitarian intervention. The statement detailed the series of diplomatic and religious efforts undertaken to halt the execution. The initiative began after he was approached last Friday by Chandy Oommen, the Congress MLA from seeking assistance in the Nimisha Priya execution case due to the cleric's longstanding ties with leading Sufi scholars in Yemen. "With a deep sense of national responsibility and humanitarian concern, I decided to act upon this request," the 'Grand Mufti' said in the statement. Given the limited diplomatic ties between India and Yemen, he chose to activate alternate channels of influence through spiritual and tribal leaders. One of the pivotal figures in the mediation process was Habib Umar bin Hafeez, a renowned Sufi scholar from Tarim, Yemen. Upon being contacted, Habib Umar promptly began mobilising his network and initiated high-level discussions with the deceased's family, legal experts, and Yemeni judicial authorities, according to the statement. 'An emergency meeting was recently convened in North Yemen under Habib Umar's guidance, bringing together key figures including senior government officials, the Chief Judge of the Criminal Court in Sanaa, the victim's family representatives, and tribal leaders. During these discussions, the victim's family signaled openness to further dialogue before finalizing their decision,' it read. Abubakr is based in Kerala, the home state of 37-year-old Nimisha Priya. He is a revered figure among Sunni Muslims in India and across South Asia. He is widely known as the 'Grand Mufti of India', though the title is not official. Further negotiations took place this morning in Dhamar, the home region of the deceased, involving tribal leaders and the victim's legal committee, the statement said. 'Notably, Justice Mohammed bin Ameen—a senior judge, Shura Council member, and relative of the deceased—joined the mediation at the request of Habib Umar and played a crucial role in persuading the family to formally request a stay of execution,' it said. The Yemeni Special Criminal Court issued an official order, signed by Judge Rizwan Ahmed Al-Wajri and Prosecutor Swari Mudeen Mufaddal, postponing the execution originally scheduled for July 16, 2025 until further notice. "This case has been deeply sensitive and emotionally complex within the tribal society of North Yemen," noted Sheikh Abubakr. 'Until recently, even establishing communication with the victim's family was impossible. The breakthrough in dialogue now offers renewed hope for a peaceful resolution.' Abubakr confirmed that all recent developments have been formally communicated to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. The statement said this intervention marks a critical step toward clemency in a case that has drawn national and international attention and underscores the impact of religious diplomacy and cross-border humanitarian solidarity. According to sources quoted by news agencies, blood money negotiations have taken place, and the details were conveyed to the concerned parties in Kerala. "Islam has another law. If the murderer is sentenced to death, the family of the victim has the right to pardon. I don't know who this family is, but from a long distance, I contacted the responsible scholars in Yemen,' he told news agency ANI. 'I made them understand the issues. Islam is a religion that places a lot of importance on humanity.' Under Shariah law, as applied in Yemen, blood money is a legally recognised financial compensation paid to the family of a person who has been killed. It is a legally sanctioned alternative to capital punishment in Islamic jurisprudence. 'After I requested that they intervene and take action, the scholars (in Yemen) met, discussed, and stated that they would do what they could. They have officially informed us and sent a document stating that the date of execution has been postponed, which will help facilitate the ongoing discussions," he said. Nimisha Priya, hailing from Palakkad district in Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. Centre informed the Supreme Court that the government could do "nothing much" in the case of the nurse facing execution on July 16. Islam is a religion that places a lot of importance on humanity. Attorney General R Venkataramani informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that the government was doing "utmost possible".
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First Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
‘I contacted Yemeni scholars, made them understand': India's Grand Mufti on Nimisha Priya's execution stay
The Yemeni government Tuesday stayed the planned execution of Nimisha Priya on July 16, giving new hope to the nurse's family read more Nimisha Priya, from Kerala's Palakkad district, was arrested in 2017 and later convicted for the murder of her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Image courtesy X India's influential Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musliyar is receiving praise for his intervention in the case of Nimisha Priya, the nurse from Kerala who faces murder charges and execution in Yemen. On Tuesday (July 15), the Yemeni government stayed the planned execution on July 16, giving new hope to the nurse's family. Musliyar is the General Secretary of All India Sunni Jamiiyyatul Ulama and the chancellor of Jamia Markaz. Talking to Network 18, the religious leader confirmed that he got official communication from Yemen regarding the postponement of Nimisha Priya's execution. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He said he had earlier talked to the concerned scholars in Yemen and urged them to intervene in the matter. 'Islam has another law. If the murder convict is sentenced to death, family of victim has the right to pardon. I don't know who this family is but from a long distance, I contacted the responsible scholars in Yemen. I made them understand the issues. Islam is a religion that gives a lot of importance to humanity. There is no difference of religion, caste but the importance is for human beings. This is something the scholars there also understood when we spoke about it. After my request if they could intervene in it and do something about it, scholars there met, discussed and said they will do what they can. They have officially informed and send the document that the date of execution has been postponed helping the discussions that are happening,' the mufti said. He said he has also informed the central government about his efforts and has also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'I have also informed the Central government about the discussions and the process. I have also sent a letter to the Prime Minister's office saying we are trying for this and this is the current stage. We don't look for religion or caste in public issues. You all know that,' he said. Nimisha, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, has been on death row in Yemeni capital Sanaa since her conviction for the 2017 murder of her Yemeni business partner Mahdi. Her legal team states that Nimisha administered sedatives to Mahdi to recover her passport and escape what she described as ongoing abuse. Mahdi allegedly died from an overdose, and Nimisha was arrested while trying to flee Yemen. Meanwhile, Congress leader and lawmaker Shashi Tharoor praised the Grand Mufti for his intervention in the case. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Kerala is praying unitedly for his efforts to be successful. Honourable Kanthapuram Ustad has shown us that humanity is the most important in today's era where there are attempts to divide humans and cultivate hatred and hatred in the name of religion and community,' Tharor, an MP from Kerala, wrote in a post on Facebook.
