Blood money: What is the million-dollar compensation package that could free Nimisha Priya from her death sentence?

Nimisha Priya is set to be executed on July 16

Social activist Samuel Jerome has been fighting tooth and nail to free Nimisha Priya - an Indian nurse in Yemen - who is set to be executed on July 17 after having been on a death row since 2017 for allegedly murdering her husband.

One of the means that Priya can now be exempted from her execution is the blood money that Jerome has offered to the victim's family, asking them to "forgive" Nimisha in return for a "million-dollar" compensation package.

"I have provided an offer of a million dollars," Jerome told India Today, adding that along with the money, he has also offered "medical assistance and assistance to the brother of the deceased if he wants to settle in UAE or Saudi Arabia."

While speaking about the concept of "blood money", Jerome told India Today, "There is nothing called blood money. If the family forgives, then there is some money to be paid that that is called the blood money. Families don't forgive because money is being paid... If the family forgives, then there is a negotiated blood money."

What is the concept of blood money?

Blood money, otherwise known as "diya", is a provision under the Islamic Sharia Law that allows an accused to compensate the victim or their family if the family chooses to forgo retribution in the case. This comes as a bid to alleviate the suffering and pain of the victim's family.

How is blood money decided?

The amount of blood money is decided with negotiations between the accused and the victim's kin - often with an oversight by the judiciary so that no unfair means are resorted to.

In many Islamic countries, the compensation amount is decided on the basis of the gender, religion and nationality of the victim. However, acceptance of blood money alone does not free the accused of all the charges and the state may impose some amount of punishment - like certain fines - to maintain law and order.

Blood money - Nimisha's last chance at life

While blood money, which Jerome has offered, could be Nimisha Priya's last chance at survival, right now it remains unclear if it is in a position to help since the victim's family has neither rejected nor accepted the offer.