No pardon, it’s a crime: Brother of Yemini man killed by Nimisha Priya

PTC News Desk: Abdelfattah Mehdi, brother of Talal Abdo Mehdi, who was allegedly killed by Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in 2017 has rejected the possibility of clemency asserting that there can be no pardon for the crime. 

He said that Nimisha Priya must face execution. 

Abdelfattah also expressed his displeasure for certain quarter of Indian media for portraying the convict Nimisha Priya as victim. 

Nimisha Priya was scheduled to be executed on July 16, however after intervention of multipronged negotiations have kept her execution in abeyance. 

Countless efforts from different quarters wide-ranging from Indian government to agencies based in Saudi Arabia and religious intervention from India's Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar resulted in deferring the execution until further notice. 

Musliyar reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen's Shoora Council to help mediate the negotiations. 

State CPI-M secretary M. V. Govindan on Wednesday morning met Musliyar, and negotiations are underway.

"Musliyar has told me that the execution has been kept in abeyance, and there are more aspects which are being discussed. He said people are engaged in talks with authorities in Yemen and also the family who has to give the pardon," said Govindan.

According to the sharia law, the family of the victim holds the authority to grant pardon in exchange for 'blood money', a legally form of compensation. However the difference of opinion seems to mount complications during negotiations. Religious leaders and government officials are now focused on resolving these internal divisions to pave the way for a settlement.