The execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala convicted of murdering Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017, has been temporarily halted, according to sources in New Delhi. Priya was scheduled to be executed on July 16, but diplomatic interventions by the Indian government have led to a delay.
The Indian side has sought additional time to allow Priya’s family to pursue a compromise through reconciliation or “diyat” (blood money), which is permitted under Yemeni law.
However, Talal Mahdi’s family remains firm in their demand for justice. In a Facebook post written in Arabic, Abdelfattah Mahdi, Talal’s brother, stated that despite ongoing mediation and external pressure, their stance remains unchanged — they demand capital punishment for Priya.
“The postponement was unexpected, but delay will not change our resolve. Pressure will not sway us. The blood of our brother cannot be bought,” he wrote, emphasizing that no peace effort or negotiation would replace retribution.
Abdelfattah added, “The truth remains, and justice will be served — even if it takes time. God willing, it will happen.”
In 2020, a Yemeni court sentenced Priya to death, a decision upheld by the Supreme Judicial Council in 2023. The 38-year-old remains imprisoned in Sana’a, a city controlled by Houthi rebels.
Despite efforts by her mother and Indian authorities, attempts to negotiate Priya’s release through blood money have faced roadblocks, highlighting the complex legal and emotional layers of the case.