ADVERTISEMENTs
.png)
What is ‘blood money’ and can it save Indian nurse on death row?
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse sentenced to death in Yemen, is fighting for her life with support from both India and Iran, who have offered assistance on humanitarian grounds.
.jpg)
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death by the trial court in Sana’a, Yemen / X/@myvakil
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, was recently sentenced to death in Yemen and remains on death row as her family and supporters work tirelessly to raise funds needed to save her life.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed their continued support for Priya, acknowledging the family's efforts to explore all possible options for her release.
"We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," the Ministry stated.
Our response to media queries regarding the case of Ms. Nimisha Priya:https://t.co/DlviLboqKG pic.twitter.com/tSgBlmitCy
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 31, 2024
Priya’s family, including her mother, husband, and daughter, traveled to Yemen in 2024 to meet with her in prison and engage in talks with the family of her deceased partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi.
They are attempting to explain Priya’s side of the story and negotiate a settlement, as Mahdi’s family holds the power to grant a pardon in exchange for a significant financial sum under the practice of ‘blood money’ or diyya.
So far, Priya’s supporters have raised US$40,000 and sent part of it to the Indian Embassy in Yemen to initiate talks with Mahdi’s family. However, the full amount required to secure a pardon is estimated to be around US$400,000, a huge sum that the family is racing to raise. The outcome of these negotiations will determine whether Priya lives or dies.
Meanwhile, the diplomatic efforts to negotiate a pardon through the "blood money" system have brought the case into the global spotlight, highlighting the role of international relations in securing justice for citizens abroad.
Iran has also extended its assistance on humanitarian grounds. According to media reports, a senior Iranian official stated that they are willing to do whatever they can to help resolve the situation.
Why is she on death row?
Priya's sufferings began in 2017 when she found herself trapped in an abusive partnership with Mahdi, a Yemeni man with whom she had started a medical clinic.
Priya is a nurse from Kerala, who began her career in 2008 and moved to Yemen. After marrying Tomy Thomas in 2011, they returned to Yemen, where she worked as a nurse and her husband worked as an electrician. They dreamed of opening a clinic. However, under Yemeni law, foreign nationals are required to have a local partner to run a business, leading Priya to enter into a partnership with Mahdi.
According to Priya, Mahdi took her passport, pretended to be her husband, and subjected her to both physical and emotional abuse. She felt helpless and isolated in a foreign country, with no way to escape. Meanwhile in India, Priya's husband and daughter faced significant challenges in traveling to Yemen due to the civil war. Since 2017, the Indian government has imposed a ban on citizens traveling to Yemen, which remains in effect. As a result, her family had to obtain special permission to enter the country.
In an attempt to break free from her abuser, Priya allegedly devised a plan to sedate Mahdi using ketamine in 2017, intending to render him unconscious, retrieve her passport, and flee the country. Tragically, Mahdi died from an overdose of the drug, as per reports.
In 2018, Priya stood trial in a Yemeni court. The trial raised serious concerns about fairness, as Priya had no legal representation or interpreter, making it impossible for her to understand the charges against her or defend herself effectively. Despite these grave issues, the court convicted her of murder and sentenced her to death.
Priya’s legal team later filed multiple appeals, arguing that the trial lacked due process, but Yemeni courts upheld the death sentence.
In November 2023, her final appeal was rejected, leaving her with limited options for relief. Now, her fate hangs in the balance, as her family and supporters work tirelessly to raise the funds needed to secure a pardon through the practice of blood money.
What is blood money?
Yemen follows Islamic Sharia law, which includes the practice of diyya, or blood money. Under this system, the family of a murder victim can forgive the convicted person in exchange for financial compensation. Priya’s supporters are now attempting to raise enough money to pay the blood money and secure her release.
While the Indian government, as well as Iranian officials, have offered assistance on humanitarian grounds, the amount of blood money required remains a significant obstacle. The moral and legal complexities of the situation have sparked widespread debate, especially as Priya’s fate may ultimately rest on the willingness of Mahdi’s family to accept the financial compensation.
Priya’s case underscores the challenges faced by foreign nationals working in countries with unjust legal systems or where they are vulnerable to exploitation. As her family continues their fight for her life, the world watches closely, hoping that diplomatic efforts and the power of forgiveness through blood money can secure a favorable outcome for Priya.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
E Paper
ADVERTISEMENT
.jpg)
Video
.jpg)
_(cropped) (1).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
Comments
Start the conversation
Become a member of New India Abroad to start commenting.
Sign Up Now
Already have an account? Login