Hopes fading for Nimisha Priya? Victim's brother Abdel Fattah Mahdi says 'retribution is coming'
The execution of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse on death row for the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi, was postponed following a last-minute reprieve. However, in a strongly worded statement posted online on Wednesday, the victim’s brother, Abdel Fattah Mahdi, said that "those who halted the execution know very well that the family absolutely rejects any attempt at reconciliation."
He further wrote: "What is happening now in terms of mediation and reconciliation is neither new nor surprising. Throughout the course of this case, there have always been significant mediation efforts. But the pressure we have faced has changed nothing. Our demand is clear: retribution—nothing else, no matter what."
Abdel had earlier announced that Nimisha Priya’s execution was scheduled for 9 am on July 16.
The postponement of the execution came after the crucial intervention of a prominent Muslim cleric from Kerala, A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama. Musliyar, also known as Kanthapuram, has long-standing ties with influential Sufi clerics in Yemen and played a key role in facilitating the delay.
Kanthapuram initiated efforts after being approached by Kerala MLA Chandy Oommen on July 11. He subsequently raised the issue with Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafeez, with whom he shares a longstanding personal connection. Habib Umar had previously visited Kozhikode to attend an international conference organised by the Markaz, an institution led by Kanthapuram. Among tribal communities in the region where Nimisha Priya is incarcerated, Habib Umar wields considerable influence. At Kanthapuram’s request, he began inquiries immediately. His office contacted both the North Yemeni authorities and the family of the murdered man.
As per his instructions, an emergency meeting was recently convened in North Yemen, led by his representatives. Attendees included representatives of the provincial administration, the Supreme Court judge of the Sanaa Criminal Court, the brother of the deceased, and tribal leaders.
Tribal heads indicated that they would communicate their final decision after further consultations with the family. The delegation remains in Dhamar, the native region of the deceased, to continue discussions aimed at building consensus among family members.
Justice Muhammad bin Ameen Sheikh—chief judge of a state court, a member of the Yemeni Shura Council, and a close relative of the victim—also intervened in the talks on the advice of Habib Umar. Reportedly, his mediation played a crucial role in persuading the family to temporarily defer the execution and communicate this to the court, which then issued the stay order.
Despite the reprieve, Kanthapuram emphasised that negotiations must continue until blood money is accepted and a full pardon is secured.
The murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi had sparked intense anger among tribal groups in North Yemen. Notably, the Indian government does not have a formal diplomatic relationship with Yemen and has great limitations in getting involved in the negotiations with the family.
Though the execution has been temporarily stayed, Abdel Fattah Mahdi’s latest social media posts suggest a serious setback to ongoing efforts to save Nimisha Priya from execution. In his post, he vowed to pursue the execution until it is carried out, stating: "Blood cannot be bought. Justice will not be forgotten. Retribution is coming, no matter how long the road may be."
India