The execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has been postponed, according to sources cited by India Today. This temporary relief comes after intensive diplomatic and religious-level efforts to negotiate a settlement with the victim's family under Yemen’s Sharia law, which allows for forgiveness in exchange for "blood money".
Priya, a 36-year-old nurse from Palakkad, Kerala, has been on death row since 2020 for the alleged murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. She reportedly injected Mahdi with sedatives in an attempt to recover her passport, but the overdose led to his death. The case became graver when it was alleged that she and another nurse dismembered and disposed of Mahdi’s body. While she has denied the intent to kill and challenged the charges, all her appeals were rejected, and Yemen's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence in 2023. In January 2024, Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat approved the execution.
Recently, strong diplomatic and religious efforts intensified:
-
Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, intervened by initiating dialogue with the victim’s family.
-
A high-level meeting took place in Dhamar, Yemen, led by influential Sufi cleric Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz and his representatives.
-
The victim’s family agreed to continue discussions, signaling a potential path toward a settlement through blood money, reportedly set at USD 1 million.
Despite the legal dead-end, the Indian government, while admitting in the Supreme Court that it has limited direct influence, is working behind the scenes by involving religious and tribal intermediaries in Yemen.
The execution delay is seen as a window of opportunity for Priya’s family and supporters to raise the blood money and finalize a deal for clemency. However, the situation remains delicate and time-sensitive, with no formal agreement yet confirmed.
