Nimisha Priya execution: Won’t grant pardon, says family of Yemeni victim

The family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, the deceased Yemeni national, remains firm in their demand for retribution even as last-minute attempts to convince them to pardon Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya were under way.

An intervention by All India Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary and Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar through his close friend and respected Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Omar bin Hafiz has had positive results, with the Yemeni authorities postponing the July 16 execution of Nimisha Priya.

Mr. Musliar said talks had been under way with Talal’s family to persuade them to pardon Nimisha Priya, despite their strong desire for retribution.

However, social media posts purportedly by Talal’s brother Abdul Fatah Mahdi indicated the family’s resolute stance on retribution as per the Islamic law rather than refusing to accept the blood money and pardon Nimisha Priya.

Mr. Fatah Mahdi said “justice would prevail” and affirmed that “retribution would come regardless of any delays in the execution.”

In a separate post, he said the family would not grant pardon to Nimisha Priya “in spite of interventions by anybody.”

Mr. Fatah Mahdi ended his post saying “the pens have been lifted, and the papers have been dried”, an Arabic idiom meaning the matter has been settled forever. This phrase is interpreted as the family’s resolution to ensure retribution.

According to sources in Yemen, the family insists on “implementing God’s law in Quisas,” which means retribution in kind as per the Islamic law, instead of pardoning and accepting the blood money called ‘diya’.

Meanwhile, certain people opposing Mr. Musliar on ideological, organisational and political grounds have further complicated the situation.

They have been fuelling the controversy by posting negative comments on social media, specifically targeting Talal’s family members. These online comments have likely exacerbated tensions, contributing to the complexity of the issue.

They launched personal attacks on Mr. Musliar while persuading Talal’s family to reject Nimisha Priya’s pardon. In their comments, they argued that accepting blood money would “tarnish the family’s reputation and dishonour Talal’s memory.”

Published - July 17, 2025 09:52 am IST