In a dramatic flip of occasions, the execution of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse on loss of life row in Yemen, scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, 2025, has been postponed by native authorities. This last-minute reprieve follows intensive diplomatic and spiritual interventions, providing a glimmer of hope for her life.
Nimisha Priya is at the moment imprisoned in Yemen, going through the loss of life penalty for the alleged homicide of her former enterprise accomplice, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017. Her loss of life sentence was upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.
Sources point out that frantic negotiations are at the moment underway involving influential figures, together with the native Chief Justice of the Yemeni court docket, a senior cleric from the highly effective Shoora Council, and members of Mehdi’s household. These discussions purpose to influence Mehdi’s household to simply accept “blood cash” (diyah), a type of monetary compensation permissible below Islamic regulation that might result in a pardon or deferral of the execution.
Efforts gained important momentum due to the intervention of Kerala’s Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly contacted a pal in Yemen’s Shoora Council to mediate. A detailed relative of the deceased, who additionally serves because the Chief Justice of the Hodeidah State Courtroom and a member of the Yemeni Shura Council, has reportedly travelled to Dhamar to take part in these crucial talks.
Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar additionally intervened, talking with officers from the Ministry of Exterior Affairs on Tuesday to press for pressing motion. Philanthropic assist has emerged, with Kerala billionaire M.A. Yusuf Ali expressing his willingness to contribute financially to safe Priya’s launch.
The case has drawn widespread concern throughout India and internationally, highlighting the precarious state of affairs of Indian migrant employees in conflict-ridden areas. Nimisha Priya’s mom, Prema Kumari, has been on the forefront of the marketing campaign to avoid wasting her daughter, even touring to Sanaa, Yemen, to try direct negotiations with the sufferer’s household. She is supported by the ‘Save Nimisha Priya Worldwide Motion Council.’
On Monday, the Supreme Courtroom of India heard the matter, with the Lawyer Common conveying that whereas the Authorities of India was making “utmost attainable” efforts, its choices had been restricted as a result of complicated and unrecognised diplomatic state of affairs in Houthi-controlled Sanaa the place Priya is incarcerated. The court docket famous the “very unlucky” state of affairs however acknowledged the federal government’s limitations.
Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 for work. In 2017, she allegedly administered sedatives to Talal Abdo Mehdi in an try to retrieve her confiscated passport. The sedatives, nonetheless, proved deadly. She was arrested whereas trying to flee and was convicted of homicide in 2018.
The Supreme Courtroom of India is scheduled to listen to the matter once more on July 18, awaiting additional updates on the continued negotiations.