What is “Blood Money” in Sharia Law?

January 2, 2025

Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, is on death row in Yemen for the 2017 killing of a Yemeni national. The Yemeni President, Rashad al-Alimi, has approved the death sentence, which is set to be executed within a month. Despite the grim circumstances, there are potential avenues for her to avoid execution. Yemen’s legal system, influenced by Islamic Sharia law, still employs capital punishment, unlike many democracies that have abolished it. However, the Quran promotes forgiveness and financial compensation, known as ‘diyya’, as alternatives to retribution.

About ‘Diyya’ in Islamic Law

‘Diyya’ refers to blood money in Islamic law. It allows the victim’s family to decide the punishment for the murderer.
The Quran encourages forgiveness, stating that if the victim’s family chooses to pardon the offender, they should negotiate a fair payment.
There is no fixed amount for blood money; it varies based on negotiations between the families involved. Some countries have established minimum amounts for such payments

What is Sharia Law?

Sharia is Islam’s legal system, derived from Quran (Islam’s holy book) and Sunnah and Hadith (deeds and sayings of Prophet Muhammad).
In Arabic, Sharia means “the clear, well-trodden path to water.”
It acts as a code of conduct for Muslims, covering prayers, fasting, charity, and daily life.
It is a comprehensive framework that informs various aspects of life, including family law, finance, business and social behavior.
Criminal offences under this law are categorized broadly into Hadd Offences (Serious crimes with fixed punishments) and Tazir Offences (punishments left to the discretion of the judge)
Application of this law varies widely across countries due to differences in legal, cultural, and social contexts. Some Islamic countries enforce strict penalties, while others adopt a more liberal approach.

Yemen Civil War

Unified in 1990, Yemen was poor, with corruption, widespread private weapons, and deep north-south divisions.
Protests from the Arab Spring (2011–2012) reached Yemen after the Tunisian Revolution.
By 2011, Yemen faced al Qaeda-linked militants in the south and Zaydi Shia rebels in the north.

Houthi Takeover (2014):
- The Iran-backed Houthi rebels captured Sana’a, Yemen’s capital, in September 2014, leading to civil war.
- By January 2015, they ousted the internationally recognized government, dissolved Parliament, and declared a Revolutionary Committee.
Saudi-led Intervention (2015):
- A Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore Hadi’s government, starting a long and devastating bombing campaign.

Humanitarian Crisis: Yemen was the poorest Arab country even before the war. The war resulted in Yemen becoming one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, nearing famine.

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