The execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen for the 2017 murder of her Yemeni business partner, has been postponed, offering a ray of hope for her family and supporters.
Sources have confirmed that Yemeni authorities have delayed the scheduled execution, which was originally set for July 16, 2025. The postponement follows intense efforts by the Indian government to gain more time for Nimisha’s family to negotiate a resolution with the victim’s relatives.
Though India does not officially recognise the ruling authorities in Sana’a and has no diplomatic presence in Yemen, officials have been actively working through informal backchannels. According to sources, Indian officials have maintained regular contact with the local jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office, which eventually led to securing the delay.
Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a long-time resident of Yemen and a member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, also confirmed that the execution had been halted, although the victim’s family has not yet agreed to pardon or accept blood money, a compensation allowed under Sharia law.
Nimisha remains on death row in Sana’a, a region where tribal customs and Islamic law heavily influence judicial outcomes. With formal diplomatic routes restricted, India’s recent push focused on informal religious and community channels, hoping for a breakthrough.
One of the key figures in the effort is Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, whose representatives have established direct contact with the victim’s family. This marks the first time that a close family member of the deceased has come to the negotiating table raising hopes of a potential pardon.
The negotiations are taking place under Sharia law, which allows the victim’s family to forgive the convicted murderer unconditionally, or in exchange for financial payment. There is no conclusion yet reached, but the delay gives Nimisha’s family and support groups some breathing space to attempt to reach a resolution.
In the last few months, airlines, faith leaders, advocacy groups and human rights advocates in India have rallied behind Nimisha’s case. The Indian government have repeatedly expressed their willingness to provide support, no matter what the geopolitical constrains are.
Meanwhile, Air India CEO Campbell Wilson jabbed unanswered in an unrelated message internally; imploring people not to jump to conclusions on blame and responsibility in aviation related incidents. Wilson urged restraint in public comments as part of a larger call for cooperation.
Nimisha Priya remains behind the bars of a prison cell in Sana’a, and her life might depend on how these negotiations unfold. With only a temporary reprieve, in reality Nimisha Periya’s life rests in the hands of Talal Abdo Mahdi’s family, who hold the power to forgive.
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