Execution Of Nimisha Priya Postponed As Talks Continue In Yemen
Yemen: The scheduled execution of Kerala-born nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has been officially postponed, bringing temporary relief to her family and supporters, reported Manorama News.
The delay comes amid ongoing negotiations, but the family of the Yemeni victim has not yet agreed to either pardon her or accept financial compensation under Islamic law.
Nimisha Priya was convicted in 2017 for the murder of her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in a case that has drawn widespread attention and diplomatic complexity.
She remains on death row in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, where India does not maintain diplomatic relations or official representation, making efforts to intervene especially challenging.
Also, read| Yemeni Family Yet To Respond To $1 Million Offer As Nimisha Priya Awaits Death
Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a longtime resident of Yemen and member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, confirmed the temporary halt in the execution. “While we have managed to buy some time, the victim’s family has not yet committed to accepting blood money or issuing a pardon,” he told Manorama News.
With the execution earlier set for July 16, frantic last-minute efforts have intensified, including interventions from influential religious leaders. One of the key figures in the negotiations is Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, whose emissaries are currently in direct discussions with Talal Mahdi’s family, marking the first time a close relative has come to the negotiating table.
A crucial meeting took place today at 10 AM local time in Yemen. The individual is not only a family member of the deceased but also serves as the Chief Justice of Hudaidah State Court and a member of Yemen’s Shura Council, lending significant weight to the talks.
Kanthapuram has requested the Yemeni authorities to postpone the execution scheduled for July 16, allowing more time for negotiations. As a result, the execution has been officially delayed.
Sources indicate that there could be an urgent legal intervention initiated through discussions with the Attorney General, aimed at officially deferring the execution.
Adding legal expertise to the effort, advocate Subhash Chandran K R, a key member of the Save Nimisha Priya campaign, continues to coordinate ground-level efforts and liaise with international legal networks to ensure that all legal and humanitarian avenues are pursued.
His arrival in Dhamar, the native region of Talal, at the request of renowned Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, is seen as a hopeful sign. He is known to be a follower of Sheikh Habib Umar’s Sufi order and the son of a respected Sufi leader, further strengthening expectations of a compassionate resolution.
The intervention of Sheikh Habib Umar, a prominent Islamic scholar and spiritual leader, is reported to have been a turning point. His recommendation led the victim’s family to consider re-evaluating their stand a development that, until recently, seemed nearly impossible. His moral and religious influence has made it possible for the first open communication between the victim’s family and negotiators.
The case of Talal’s death has remained a highly emotional issue not just for his family, but also within the tribal and local community of Dhamar, making negotiations complex and sensitive.
Also, read| Yemen’s Public Prosecutor Orders Nimisha Priya’s Execution On July 16
For years, no one could reach the family to initiate a dialogue, primarily due to intense community pressure. The current progress marks the first real breakthrough.
While discussions continue around the possibility of accepting blood money (diyya), a provision allowed under Sharia law, today’s meeting may prove crucial in reaching a final decision.
Yemen follows Sharia law, under which the family of the murder victim has the legal right to either forgive the convict unconditionally or accept “diyya” (blood money) as compensation. In this case, talks are underway for a possible financial settlement, reportedly supported by donors and humanitarian organisations.
As India lacks formal diplomatic channels in Yemen, the Indian government is relying on informal routes, including outreach to local tribes and religious leaders. New Delhi has officially requested a stay on execution, but the outcome ultimately hinges on the victim’s family.
Earlier, reports indicated that Rahim’s Trust had pledged ₹11 crore if the victim’s family agrees to accept blood money. While there is cautious optimism, time remains a critical factor.
