Latest news with #Kanthapuram
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Tweet Gone, But Grand Mufti Stands By His Claim: Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya's Death Sentence Waived, Victim's Family Nod Awaited
Thiruvananthapuram: Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, a Sunni grand mufti from Kerala, has stood by his claim that Yemeni authorities have agreed to waive the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse convicted of murdering a Yemeni national in 2017. Made through a now-missing post on social media, the assertion has stirred cautious optimism as well as skepticism across diplomatic and public circles. Kanthapuram had shared the development in a tweet on Monday evening, claiming that following intense negotiations with Yemeni religious leaders and intermediaries, Nimisha's execution had been officially called off. The post was later deleted, but not by him, according to those close to the cleric. They say it disappeared after ANI itself took down its original report. Religious Channels Over Diplomatic Ones Kanthapuram's claim hinges on the influence of Yemen's religious clergy. According to his office, a delegation of Islamic scholars aligned with the powerful Hadhramaut-based cleric Habib Umar bin Hafiz played a key role in lobbying Houthi-led authorities in Northern Yemen. The message conveyed was one of mercy, allowing the possibility of diyya (blood money) or life imprisonment, rather than execution. He said in his statement, 'The Yemeni authorities have accepted our intervention in the matter. This is a great humanitarian step. The final decision now rests with the family of the deceased.' Though there is no official confirmation yet from Sanaa, the cleric's followers in Kerala and parts of the Gulf have shared the statement widely, hoping it signals a turning point in a high-stakes case that has gripped Malayali and human rights circles for years. Execution Was Due July 16 Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Palakkad, Kerala, was sentenced to death for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. The killing took place in 2017 after a protracted period of alleged abuse, passport confiscation and reported threats. Nimisha claimed she acted in desperation, trying to escape back to India with her daughter. Earlier this month, her execution, which was scheduled for July 16, was postponed. Indian officials had attributed the delay to behind-the-scenes diplomatic intervention, particularly through humanitarian and consular channels. However, Kanthapuram's camp insists that religious diplomacy may have played a greater role. His emissaries have reportedly been in direct contact with spiritual leaders in Yemen who, in turn, liaised with political actors in the Houthi-controlled capital. A Yemeni Confirmation, Of Sorts Adding weight to Kanthapuram's claim was a Facebook post by Sarhan Shamsan Al Wiswabi, a Yemeni rights activist and spokesperson for Talal's family. In his post, Al Wiswabi acknowledged that religious leaders had 'succeeded in freezing the execution order' and that a 'legal shift toward alternative punishment, life sentence or pardon, was underway'. However, he reiterated that any clemency or sentence reduction ultimately depends on the will of the victim's family. Under Yemen's Sharia-based legal system, the family of the deceased has the right to reject or accept diyya. What Happens Next? The next step is likely a series of delicate negotiations with the Mahdi family. If they agree to accept diyya, Nimisha could either be spared execution and released after compensation or her sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment. Reports from Yemen suggest that tribal elders and religious authorities are still involved in trying to persuade the family to accept clemency. There has been no comment so far from official Yemeni legal authorities, nor from India's Ministry of External Affairs. Back in Kerala, a Divided Response While Kanthapuram's statement has been welcomed by supporters of the 'Save Nimisha Priya' campaign, public reaction across Kerala remains sharply divided. On one hand are those who see her as a victim of exploitation and injustice, caught in a brutal system. On the other, particularly in online forums, many argue that justice must also consider the victim's family and that mercy should not override murder. Some social media users from Kerala even left messages on Arabic posts asking the Mahdi family not to accept diyya, urging them to 'stand firm'. No Retraction, Says Cleric's Office Addressing questions about the deleted tweet, Kanthapuram's aides clarified that there was no change in his position. 'The tweet disappeared because the original ANI post was deleted. But Kanthapuram Musliyar stands by his words. The execution has been halted. The sentence has been waived. What remains is the family's decision,' a senior aide told reporters. Awaiting Official Word Despite the hopeful tone of Kanthapuram's message, the Indian government has not issued any official confirmation. A spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment on the cleric's claim but reiterated that India continues to pursue 'all appropriate diplomatic avenues' for the safe return of its citizens. Whether the waiver claim holds and whether it translates into clemency for Nimisha now rests on two uncertain fronts – the silent bureaucracy of Houthi-controlled Yemen and the heart of one grieving family.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nimisha case reconciliation claim untrue: Victim's brother
KOCHI: Confusion prevails over revocation of death sentence of Nimisha Priya, the Kerala nurse on death row in Yemen for 2017 murder of a Yemeni citizen, with the victim's brother contesting claims by an eminent cleric that an "agreement" has been reached. Victim Talal Abdo Mahdi's brother, Abdul Fattah Mahdi, rejected the claims by Kerala Sunni cleric Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar in a Facebook post on Tuesday. MEA also didn't confirm the reports. Kanthapuram's office Monday said Nimisha's death sentence was revoked following mediation between Yemeni religious scholars and govt officials. Nimisha's execution was earlier scheduled for July 16 but postponed, purportedly on the intervention of Kanthapuram. In his post, Fattah asked Kanthapuram's office to clarify who communicated with Talal's family and his blood heirs. "I do not believe the preacher's office would issue such statements unless someone provided them false information that we accepted reconciliation, which is absolutely untrue," he wrote.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deleted, not denied: The truth behind Kanthapuram's claim on Nimisha Priya's reprieve
A curious development unfolded on Tuesday (July 29, 2025) morning about the reported commutation of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya's death sentence in Yemen. An ANI tweet about the reprieve, shared by Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar on X, disappeared from his social media handle. On Monday night, Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had announced that Yemeni authorities had waived the death sentence following a series of discussions involving scholars appointed by senior Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omer bin Hafiz, Northern Yemen representatives and international diplomats. The news had been widely reported by media outlets, including ANI, which Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had shared on his X handle. However, when ANI deleted the original tweet, it automatically disappeared from Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's X handle, leading to confusions and speculations about Nimisha Priya's fate. Kanthapuram maintains stance Mr. Aboobacker Musliar maintained on Tuesday that the Yemeni authorities had indeed decided to revoke the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya, accused of murdering Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017. According to sources close to Mr. Aboobacker Musliar, the next step is negotiating with Talal Abdo Mahdi's family to determine Nimisha Priya's sentence – either life imprisonment or release upon payment of blood money. Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's claim about waiving of Nimisha Priya's execution was confirmed on Monday night by Sarhan Shamsan Al Wiswabi, a Yemeni activist and spokesperson for the Action Council for Talal Mahdi's Justice in Yemen, through a Facebook post. Mr. Wiswabi said in his post that due to the strong intervention of religious scholars, the death sentence was waived. He said it would now be either life imprisonment or release on payment of blood money. Her planned July 16 execution was earlier deferred following multiple interventions. The Centre claimed it had intervened, while Mr. Aboobacker Musliar had claimed he did so through his close association with revered Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omer bin Hafiz. Mr. Aboobacker Musliar's intervention, however, sparked a controversy. Several individuals and groups tried to claim credit for the reprieve, while others criticised him for his involvement. Some Keralites opposing Mr. Aboobacker Musliyar's efforts went further, expressing sympathy for Talal Abdo Mahdi's family on Facebook. They urged Abdul Fatah Mahdi, the victim's brother, to reject any potential pardon for Nimisha Priya and instead advocated for her capital punishment, adding complexity to the situation.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nimisha Priya's death sentence may be revoked
Kozhikode: In what could mark a breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to save nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing the death penalty in Yemen, an agreement has been reached to revoke her death sentence, according to the office of Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, who had intervened in the matter through religious leaders in Yemen. Kanthapuram office said the decision reportedly emerged in the talks attended by the Yemeni delegation of scholars appointed by Sheikh Habib Omar bin Hafeel at the request of Kanthapuram and key govt officials of Northern Yemen and international diplomatic representatives. "Some crucial decisions have been made in the case of Nimisha Priya. Further decisions will be decided following continued negotiations with the family of the deceased Talal," Kanthapuram's office said. Though official confirmation from India's ministry of external affairs is still awaited, sources close to Kanthapuram indicated that judicial authorities in Yemen were also involved in the discussions. Earlier, the execution scheduled for July 16 was temporarily postponed following the intervention of Kanthapuram. It was Kanthapuram's office who had first released the order issued to postpone the death sentence. Nimisha is on death row for the 2017 murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. Kanthapuram, who holds the title of Grand Mufti of India, made a last-ditch humanitarian plea by asking his close friend Sheikh Habib to persuade Mahdi's family to pardon Priya by accepting blood money. Nimisha's daughter appeals to release her mother Meanwhile, Nimisha Priya's daughter Mishel appealed to the Houthi administration in Yemen to release her mother from prison. In a video released by evangelist K A Paul on Monday, Mishel, appeared along with her father, Paul and religious leaders in Yemen. Mishel is studying in a residential school in Kothamangalam. "Please release my mother as early as possible. I want to meet her. I miss you, Mommy. I love you, Mommy," Mishel says in an emotional appeal in the video. The video begins with Paul addressing Houthi rebel leaders, expressing gratitude to the leadership.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Nimisha Priya case: Oommen meets Kanthapuram, express hope collective efforts would help
Kozhikode: Puthupally MLA Chandy Oommen on Monday met Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker to discuss the Nimisha Priya case and expressed hope that her release could be achieved through collective efforts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Speaking to the media after the meeting, Oommen said Kanthapuram had made notable intervention by reaching out to a spiritual leader in Yemen who could even make connections to persons associated with the judiciary. "Kanthapuram responded immediately when I approached him for help in Nimisha Priya's case. I felt it was my responsibility to personally thank him for the morale and humane stand that he took," Oommen said. He added that Kanthapuram would be able to coordinate the joint efforts for the release of Nimisha by involving both central and state govts and others. Oommen said matters related to the case were better not discussed in public as it would lead to communication gaps and misunderstandings. "It is better to work towards the single-point agenda of securing Nimisha's release in a silent matter," he added. Those behind the efforts are moving ahead in a positive manner, are approaching the matter constructively and further discussions are planned, he said. "Initiatives are under way on multiple fronts and I urge everyone not to create misunderstandings," he added.
