The family of a murdered Yemeni businessman has taken a firm stance against pardoning Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who currently sits on death row in Yemen for his killing.
According to The Independent, the victim's brother declared that "blood cannot be bought," despite a million-dollar offer from Priya's supporters.
The dramatic development comes just one day after Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi temporarily postponed Priya's execution, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday. The 38-year-old Kerala native was convicted of murdering her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017, though she maintains her innocence in the gruesome case where the victim's dismembered remains were discovered in a water tank.
Complex Business Partnership Leads to Murder
Nimisha Priya's journey in Yemen began in 2008 when she arrived to work as a nurse. Under Yemeni law, she was required to partner with a local citizen to open her clinic, leading to her business arrangement with Talal Abdo Mahdi. The partnership, however, allegedly turned toxic.
Priya's family claims she endured mental, physical, and financial abuse at Mahdi's hands, even filing a police complaint that led to his brief detention in 2016. After his release, Mahdi allegedly resumed his threatening behavior, though his family vehemently denies these allegations.
The situation reached its tragic climax in 2017 with Mahdi's murder, resulting in Priya's arrest. A local court handed down the death sentence in 2020, and her subsequent appeal to Yemen's Supreme Court was rejected in 2023.
Family's Desperate Plea Meets Firm Resistance
Priya's supporters in India have raised $1 million as "blood money" (diyat), hoping to secure her release under Yemen's Islamic judicial system. This legal framework allows murder convicts to be pardoned if the victim's family accepts compensation.
Abdelfattah Mahdi, the victim's brother, took to Facebook to express their unwavering position, stating that "justice means execution" and no amount of pressure or delay would change their minds. He acknowledged awareness of "covert attempts at mediation" but remained resolute in demanding retribution.
The victim's family's stance has effectively nullified the temporary relief granted by the presidential postponement. Under Yemeni law, crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, apostasy, adultery, and same-sex relations carry capital punishment.
International Efforts and Legal Complexities
Priya's mother, a domestic worker from Kochi city, has spent the past year in Yemen advocating for her daughter's release. The case has drawn attention to the complexities of international legal systems and cultural differences.
Currently imprisoned in Sanaa, Yemen's capital under Houthi control, Priya's situation highlights the challenges faced by foreign nationals in Yemen's justice system. The postponement of her execution has opened a narrow window for diplomatic intervention.
Her legal team continues to explore options while maintaining her innocence in the face of the gruesome allegations. The case has sparked discussions about the rights of foreign workers in Yemen and the intersection of different legal systems.
