International News: The news of relief regarding the hanging of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya now seems to be temporary. Nimisha was sentenced to death for killing her business partner Talal Abdo Mahdi in Yemen in 2017. Nimisha was to be sentenced to death on 16 July 2025, but a day before that, on 15 July, it was postponed indefinitely. At the same time, a new crisis seems to be looming over this news of relief, because the victim's family has demanded justice under Qisas.
The victim's family refused to apologize
Let us tell you that the family of the victim, Talal Mahdi, has clearly stated that they will only accept justice under the "law of God," i.e., Qisas, and will not recognize any kind of Diyah (compensation for bloodshed). In a statement to the media, Mahdi's brother Abdulfattah Mahdi said, "There is no change in our stance. We only want Qisas, nothing else." He also said that due to this horrific and obvious crime, his family has not only suffered the pain of crime but has also become a victim of a long and tedious legal process.
What are qisas and diyah?
Under Islamic Sharia law, Qisas means "tit for tat," i.e., if someone is killed, the culprit should be given the same punishment. However, the Quran also provides that if the victim's family wishes, they can forgive the culprit and take diyah, i.e., compensation, in return. This is a kind of opportunity for mercy and relief from Allah.
In this case, Nimisha Priya's family offered to pay the diyah, but Mahdi's family is not willing to accept it. This makes it clear that Priya's fate now depends on Mahdi's family's wishes and the Sharia law of 'Qisas.'
The victim's family may consider pardon
Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A.P. Abubakar Musliyar has also confirmed that he has contacted religious leaders of Yemen, who are trying to convince the Mahdi family. He said that the talks are still going on and it was expected that the victim's family may consider a pardon. But now the way the victim's family has made it clear that they are adamant about demanding only the death penalty, the doubts about Nimisha's life are deepening.
What are the future possibilities?
Even though Priya's execution has been postponed for the time being, this is not a permanent relief. If the victim's family does not change its stance, then under Yemen's law, their statement will be considered supreme. At the same time, diplomatic efforts, international intervention, and mediation by religious leaders are still going on in this entire matter, but no concrete result has come out of this yet.
