New Delhi: Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, received a last-minute reprieve hours before her scheduled execution on July 16.
Emergency negotiations involving tribal leaders, court officials, and the victim’s family helped delay the hanging, which was to be carried out in a Houthi-controlled prison.
Grand Mufti’s appeal prompts breakthrough
Sheikh Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, personally appealed to Yemeni authorities under Sharia law, asking for a pardon without requiring blood money. His intervention played a crucial role in securing the delay.
India has no diplomatic ties with the Houthi regime in Yemen. The Centre had earlier told the Supreme Court that its hands were tied. However, backchannel efforts through religious and tribal networks proved effective.
Family pushes for ‘Diya’ settlement
Nimisha’s family, supported by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, has offered Rs 8.6 crore in blood money (Diya) to the victim’s family. This is a move permitted under Yemeni law. Talks are ongoing to reach a “mutually acceptable” settlement.
Indian officials were also in constant touch with the Yemeni prosecutor’s office and local jail authorities, contributing to the deferring.
The road ahead remains uncertain
While the execution has been deferred, Nimisha’s future is still uncertain. Her family and supporters hope to use this reprieve to finalise a pardon and bring her back home to India. The next few days will be critical in determining whether that hope becomes a reality.
Nimisha Priya is a trained nurse hailing from Palakkad district in Kerala. She had moved to Yemen in 2008 for work, where she was convicted in 2020. Her family has reportedly offered Rs 8.6 crore as blood money to the victim’s relatives. This is a provision allowed under Yemeni Sharia law.
The ‘Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council’, which has been campaigning for her release, now hopes to use the extra time to negotiate a permanent resolution.
While the postponement offers temporary relief, efforts continue to seek a complete pardon and bring Priya home.
