New Delhi: The hopes of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing death sentence in Yemen, surviving are diminishing. Nimisha was to be hanged on 16 July 2025, but after the intervention of a Muslim cleric of India, the sentence was postponed indefinitely. The brother of the Yemeni citizen for whose murder Nimisha is to be hanged has now written a letter demanding that she be punished as soon as possible. The brother of the deceased has clearly written in the letter that the family is not at all ready for reconciliation or mediation.
In fact, Kerala resident Nimisha Priya is facing death sentence in a 2017 case in which she accidentally killed a Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi. Mahdi’s brother Abdul Fattah Abdo Mahdi has written a letter to Yemen’s Attorney General and Judge Abdul Salam al-Houthi and shared it on social media. In the letter, the brother of the deceased wrote that his family wants Nimisha Priya to be hanged.
In a letter originally written in Arabic, Mahdi’s brother wrote, “More than half a month has passed since the hanging was postponed on July 16 and a new date for the execution has not been set. We, the heirs of the victim, fully adhere to our legitimate right to implement the punishment of revenge and refuse all attempts at reconciliation or mediation.” In the letter, Mahdi’s brother demanded that the death sentence be implemented and a new date for the execution be set.
Mehdi wrote on social media that he would move forward no matter how extreme the obstacles are and that he was firm in his stance on the death penalty. “The path to justice is well known. Only by taking revenge can the dignity of the oppressed be restored. We are not waiting for anyone’s recommendation or permission. We have taken this decision with a wounded heart. No matter how extreme the obstacles are, we will move forward. Our path is clear, our stance is firm. Revenge is ours alone…” Mehdi wrote on social media.
However, people have recorded mixed reactions under the social media post. A group of people are demanding that the death penalty be abolished and that it be abolished. However, some have also shared their opinions in support of Mehdi’s decisions. Talal’s brother is writing to the authorities amid strong progress in efforts to freeze the death penalty. Various sources have informed that Mehdi has written to the authorities before this.
It is worrying how much of a setback Mehdi’s letter will be to India’s efforts to overturn Nimishapriya’s death sentence. It is necessary to examine whether Mehdi still has legal options in this case.
The first in the list of heirs of the murdered Yemeni citizen had agreed with Yemeni scholars to avoid the execution of Nimishapriya. Discussions are ongoing on other matters, including the amount of the inheritance. Kanthapuram was informed that after a final decision is made, the court in Sana’a will be informed. In this situation, the objection of the brother, who is only one of the heirs, is irrelevant.
According to Sharia law, if at least one of the heirs pardons the accused, the death penalty will be commuted. Those leading the mediation talks hope that this will be in Nimisha’s favor. There were reports that as a result of the mediation talks, an agreement was reached to cancel Nimishapriya’s death sentence. However, the Center rejected this argument. The mediation talks were held under the leadership of representatives of Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musliyar.
Meanwhile, the Center had rejected the Action Council’s demand to appoint a six-member diplomatic-mediation team to help Nimishapriya’s release efforts the other day. The Action Council announced that it would approach the Supreme Court against the Center’s action. The Action Council demanded that a six-member diplomatic-mediation team be appointed to meet the family of the slain Yemeni citizen and apologize and hold amicable discussions. The Action Council demanded that Supreme Court lawyer Adv. Subhash Chandran KR and Council Treasurer Kunjahammed Koorachund be included as Action Council representatives, Muslim scholar Adv. Hussain Sakhafi and Hamid be included as Markaz representatives, and the remaining two should be officials recommended by the Central Government.
Action Council lawyer Subhash Chandran said that they did not expect any other decision from the central government and approached the central government as directed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case again on August 14.
The death sentence of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya, who was jailed for the murder of a Yemeni national, was postponed on July 16. Nimisha Priya killed Yemeni national Talal Abdu Mehdi on July 25, 2017. Nimisha claims that the brutal torture that led to the murder after seizing his passport led to the murder. Talal was killed by an overdose of drugs. Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death by a Yemeni court after being found guilty in the court trial.
