Victim’s brother denies pardon for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, questions legitimacy of negotiations

Gulf Today Report

Confusion surrounds the status of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence in Yemen, as conflicting reports have surfaced regarding its cancellation.

News agency ANI, citing reliable sources, reported on Tuesday that her death sentence has not been overturned, contradicting earlier claims made by other parties.

 “Information being circulated by certain individuals regarding the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,” the sources told ANI.

Despite recent reports hinting at a potential breakthrough in the case of Nimisha Priya, the victim’s family has publicly denied any agreement or pardon.

Abdul Fattah Mahdi, brother of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Mahdi, issued a strong rebuttal on Facebook, rejecting claims that he had forgiven Priya. He also raised concerns over the credibility of the ongoing negotiations surrounding the case.

Mahdi argued that, under Islamic law, granting clemency in murder cases is not permissible. He also criticised the mediators involved in the talks, alleging that they failed to consult or coordinate with Talal’s immediate family.

Earlier, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar issued a statement claiming that a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, had resulted in the full cancellation of the death sentence, which had previously been suspended.

“The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was earlier put on hold, has now been completely revoked,” the Grand Mufti’s office had said.

As of now, there is no official confirmation from Yemeni authorities regarding the reported decision.

Priya’s family, including her 13-year-old daughter Mishel and her husband Thomas, had travelled to Yemen in support of her case. They were accompanied by Indian Christian evangelist Dr. KA Paul, who has been advocating for her release. Together, they made an appeal to the Houthi authorities for leniency.

In an emotional video shared by PTI, Mishel is seen expressing her love for her mother in both Malayalam and English, saying, “I love you, mamma.” The audio, however, is not clearly audible.

Last week, India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that it is closely monitoring the case and providing full support to Priya and her family. The ministry also stated that it is coordinating with “friendly governments” to help resolve the matter diplomatically.

Nimisha Priya had been sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. Her case has drawn significant attention in India and abroad, with calls for diplomatic intervention and clemency on humanitarian grounds.