Yemen Monitor / Sana’a / Agencies:
The family of a Yemeni man murdered by an Indian nurse has firmly rejected any form of pardon, extinguishing hopes of a last-minute negotiation that could have spared her from execution.
Talal Abdu Mahdi’s brother stated unequivocally that the family “refuses any form of settlement” and that “blood cannot be bought,” following a recent delay in the execution of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse convicted of the crime. The delay came amid intensified efforts by activists and supporters in India to buy time for a possible pardon.
Nimisha Priya, 38, from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was convicted in 2020 of killing her business partner, Talal Abdu Mahdi, in 2017. She denied the killing, but authorities discovered his dismembered remains — over 100 pieces — in a water tank, leading to a death sentence.
In a Facebook post, Abdul Fattah Mahdi, the victim’s brother, said:
“We were not surprised by the recent delay in execution, though we didn’t expect it. Those who intervened know very well that we reject any form of settlement.”
He emphasized,
“Justice for us means execution. No amount of pressure or delay will change that. Blood is not for sale.”
Abdul Fattah further affirmed that, despite the postponement, the family would continue to pursue justice “with God’s help.”
The case has drawn significant attention in both Yemen and India, with human rights groups, religious leaders, and diplomatic channels involved in various capacities. However, the firm stance of the Mahdi family presents a major obstacle to any clemency efforts.
Under Yemeni law, the victim’s family holds decisive power in cases involving capital punishment, especially in murder cases, where forgiveness by the family can lead to the suspension or commutation of a death sentence.
