The execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, scheduled for July 16, 2025, in Yemen, has been postponed. Priya was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017.
The postponement comes after concerted diplomatic efforts and interventions by religious figures. The Indian government has been actively involved in seeking a resolution, and Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, has also intervened, reaching out to Yemeni religious authorities to negotiate with the victim's family.
Nimisha Priya's case is complex, stemming from events that occurred while she was working as a nurse in Yemen. She moved to Yemen in 2008 seeking better job opportunities and initially worked in a hospital. In 2014, she started a clinic in partnership with Talal Abdo Mahdi. However, their relationship deteriorated, with Priya alleging that Mahdi stole her passport, misappropriated funds, and subjected her to abuse.
In 2017, in an attempt to retrieve her passport, Priya tried to sedate Mahdi, but he died from an overdose. Subsequently, she dismembered his body with the help of another person and disposed of the remains in a water tank. Priya was arrested while attempting to leave Yemen.
The case's uniqueness is further complicated by the political situation in Yemen, where the capital, Sana'a, is controlled by the Houthi rebels, while the internationally recognized government operates from Aden. This has created diplomatic challenges for the Indian government in its efforts to assist Priya.
The primary avenue for averting the execution is through negotiating a "blood money" settlement with the victim's family, a practice recognized under Sharia law. It was reported that Nimisha's family is willing to pay 86 million rupees as compensation to the victim's family. Nimisha's husband, Tomy Thomas, expressed relief at the postponement and affirmed that efforts to secure her safe return would continue. He also mentioned that their daughter is aware of the situation.
The Indian government has stated its commitment to providing all possible assistance to Priya and is in regular contact with local jail authorities and the prosecutor's office. Despite these efforts, the government has acknowledged its limited ability to intervene directly, describing it as a "very complex issue". The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the limitations faced by the Indian government in this matter.
The postponement provides a window for further negotiations and efforts to secure a pardon for Nimisha Priya. The intervention of religious leaders, including the Grand Mufti of India, is aimed at persuading the victim's family to accept compensation.
