Death or Forgiveness? Suspense Grows Over Nimisha Priya’s Fate

National News: The hopes of averting the hanging of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya have once again suffered a major setback. The death sentence of Nimisha, who is serving a sentence in Yemen for murder, may have been temporarily stayed, but now the hope of pardon also seems to be weakening. In fact, the brother of the deceased Talal Abdo Mahdi has clearly refused to pardon her.

Nimisha Priya was arrested in 2017 in Yemen for the murder of her business partner Talal Mahdi. In 2020, she was sentenced to death, which has also been upheld by the higher courts of Yemen. Now the only hope of saving her rested on the forgiveness of the victim's family, which is now almost broken.

'The murderer cannot be forgiven': brother of the deceased

Talal Mahdi's brother Abdelfattah Mahdi, while talking to the media, said that our stand is very clear. We want 'Qisas' i.e. 'blood for blood'. No other option is acceptable. He said that his family has not only suffered the pain of murder but also the mental torture of the legal battle of the last several years. He further said that justice will be done only when Nimisha is hanged. The culprit is being portrayed as a victim and our family is being pressured for forgiveness, which is completely wrong. 

Some relief was received from India on religious initiative

Nimisha's hanging was scheduled for July 16, but on the initiative of India's Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar, talks were held with Yemeni religious scholars and the hanging was temporarily postponed. This decision had raised hopes in India that perhaps Mahdi's family would agree. But now after their statement, the situation has again become delicate.

What is the rule of 'Qisas' and blood money?

Under Islamic Sharia law, 'qisas' means that a murder is avenged with an equal punishment - that is, murder for murder. However, according to the Quran, if the family of the deceased wishes, they can forgive the murderer or take blood money (financial compensation in exchange for blood). Nimisha's family and the Indian embassy have offered blood money several times, but so far Mahdi's family has rejected any compromise.

Is there any other way left?

Legally in Yemen, if the victim's family does not forgive, even the government cannot stop the execution. In such a situation, diplomatic efforts and compromise efforts by the Indian government and religious leaders are the last hope. At present, Nimisha's punishment has been postponed, but a new date can be announced at any time.

Who is Nimisha Priya?

Nimisha Priya, a resident of Kerala, went to Yemen in 2008 in search of work. She started a clinic with Talal Mahdi. According to Nimisha, Talal exploited her and confiscated her passport, to get which he gave her an injection of anesthesia, which led to her death. The court considered it a deliberate murder and sentenced her to death in 2020.