What is the “blood money” that Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s family has offered to Yemen? – First message

Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, faces a grim fate in Yemen after she was awarded the death penalty in that country. Recently, President Rashad al-Alimi approved the death penalty for the 36-year-old man for allegedly murdering a Yemeni citizen.

The sentence, which could be carried out within a month, has shocked his family and the Indian government.

The Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday that the Indian government is “offering all possible assistance in this matter.” Meanwhile, his family is sparing no effort and exploring all legal options available to save his life.

One of the options being considered is ‘diyya’, a concept in Islamic Sharia law often referred to as ‘blood money’.

But what exactly is “blood money” and how might it work in this case? Here’s an in-depth look.

First, who is Nimisha Priya? What is the case?

Nimisha Priya, A nurse from Kollengode in Kerala, she began her medical career with aspirations for a better future and moved to Yemen in 2008 in search of better opportunities.

In 2011, she married Tomy Thomas in Kerala and the couple soon moved to Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, to build a new life together. While Priya worked as a nurse, Tomy found employment as an electrician.

Seeking to improve their financial situation, the couple decided to open their own clinic. However, since Yemeni laws prohibited foreigners from registering companies, they needed a local partner.

That’s when they teamed up with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a frequent visitor to the clinic where Priya worked, to launch their new company.

Over time, she developed close ties with the family and even attended Priya’s daughter’s baptism in Kerala in 2015. While Priya earlier returned to
Yemenher husband and daughter were unable to join her when a civil war broke out in the country.

That’s when things went wrong.

Betrayal and abuse

After Priya’s return to Yemen, Mahdi helped her open a clinic, but he soon changed his attitude and allegedly refused to share the profits with her, Priya’s family claimed.

Over time, things got worse, her family said, when Mahdi began harassing her under the influence of drugs and extorting money from her at his clinic. He even threatened her at gunpoint and manipulated the clinic’s ownership documents to take full control.

Furthermore, family members and legal representatives alleged that he confiscated her passport to prevent her from leaving Yemen and restricted her contact with her family in Kerala.

In 2017, Priya decided to retrieve her passport from Mahdi control to escape Yemen.

According to a News18 According to the report, a prison director, who was also his patient and who was aware of his case, as he had repeatedly reported attacks or threats by the Yemeni citizen to the local police, advised him to temporarily incapacitate Mahdi and recover his passport to flee back home.

His first attempt failed because Mahdi’s substance abuse did not calm him down. On his second attempt, he used a stronger dose, which tragically led to his death from an overdose within minutes.

In a panic, he sought help from a Yemeni nurse, who allegedly suggested they cut up the body and throw the parts into a water tank.

Although the two hid, the police were able to catch them. They were charged with murder in 2017 and are being held in Sana’a central prison.

Priya, who has been imprisoned since then, can only speak to her daughter, who was two years old at the time, through video calls.

“Every time Nimisha calls me, the first thing she asks is about our daughter. She asks me how I am, she asks me about my health and how we are doing. He is in jail and has no knowledge of what is happening outside. But the first thing is always to know how our daughter is doing and how she wants to come together as a family,” her husband told News18.

In 2018, a Sana’a lower court sentenced Priya to death.

What is ‘blood money’?

While many countries, particularly democracies, have abolished the death penalty for murder and other crimes, it is still part of the legal system in some countries governed by Islamic Sharia law.

However, Sharia law also emphasizes forgiveness and compensation to the victim’s loved ones. Under this system, the victim’s family has the right to decide the punishment for the offender. One option is forgiveness in exchange for monetary compensation known as ‘diyya’, commonly known as ‘blood money’.

The Quran provides guidance on this matter and states: “O believers! The law of retaliation is established for you in cases of murder: a free man for a free man, a slave for a slave, and a woman for a woman. But if the victim’s guardian forgives the offender, then the blood money should be decided fairly and the payment should be made courteously. This is a concession and a mercy from your Lord. But whoever transgresses after this will suffer a painful punishment” (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 178).

While the Quran explains the concept, it does not set a fixed amount for blood money.

The amount is determined by negotiation between the families of the murderer and the victim, although some Islamic countries have established minimum compensation amounts.

How can this help the case?

Priya’s family is trying to prevent the death penalty by negotiating with the victim’s family, offering “blood money” as part of the resolution.

“We are trying to get my wife back so that we can live as a family again… I firmly believe that the discussions will reach a point where we can talk about ‘diya’ or blood money. I am positive. I refuse to lose hope. My wife is a good human being,” said her husband, a laborer and rickshaw driver. News18.

Earlier this year, the Indian government allocated $40,000 (over Rs 34 lakhs) in November 2023 to start talks for the release of Nimisha Priya, reported indian express. Over time, his family may have to pay between $300,000 and $400,000 (Rs 2.57 to 3.43 million) to avoid the death sentence.

International support has been crucial in their efforts to raise money through crowdfunding. The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a group of NRI social workers in Yemen, has been actively involved. Activist Prema Kumari has been stationed in Sana’a since early 2024, working on negotiating the blood money payment.

However, the negotiations have faced setbacks. Now, with the involvement of the Indian authorities, efforts are being made to obtain forgiveness from Mahdi’s family and tribal leaders. If successful, Nimisha Priya’s life could be saved through a financial settlement.

With contributions from agencies