Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, is the current Grand Mufti of India. This influential Muslim cleric recently played a crucial role in the temporary suspension of the execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse sentenced to death in Yemen.
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national who was her business partner. Priya had moved to Yemen in 2008 and later established a clinic with Mahdi. The relationship deteriorated, allegedly over financial disputes, leading to the tragic incident in 2017. Priya reportedly sedated Mahdi in an attempt to retrieve her passport, but he died from an overdose. She has been imprisoned in Sana'a since then.
With Nimisha Priya's execution scheduled for July 16, 2025, efforts to secure her release intensified. The Indian government informed the Supreme Court that they were doing everything possible. However, formal diplomatic channels were limited because India does not have an embassy in Yemen. The intervention of Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad proved to be a turning point.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, 94, is a highly respected figure among Sunni Muslims in India and across South Asia. While the title "Grand Mufti of India" is not officially government-recognized, he was conferred the title in February 2019 at the Gareeb Nawaz Peace Conference in New Delhi. He serves as the General Secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama. As Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad holds a senior and influential position within the Sunni Muslim community, advising on religious decrees and matters of Islamic law.
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad used his religious network to connect with Yemeni religious authorities. He contacted scholars in Yemen's Sufi circles, particularly those connected to Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz. These connections helped establish contact with clerics close to the victim's family, something that had eluded others. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad emphasized the possibility of a pardon under Islamic law, where the victim's family has the right to pardon the offender, often in exchange for "blood money".
According to sources, this was the first time the victim's family agreed to engage in dialogue. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad's office confirmed the receipt of official documentation from Yemeni scholars stating that the execution had been postponed to allow discussions to continue. He also informed the Indian government about the discussions.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad's intervention has opened a potential path toward clemency for Nimisha Priya. Representatives of Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz are scheduled to meet with Talal Abdo Mahdi's family in Yemen for negotiations. Nimisha Priya's family had earlier offered Rs 8.6 crore to the victim's family, seeking their forgiveness.
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad was born on March 22, 1931, in Kozhikode, Kerala. He is also the General Secretary of Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama of AP Sunnis. Besides his role as Grand Mufti, he is known for his work in promoting peace and interfaith dialogue and is involved with various educational initiatives. He was the first to issue a fatwa against ISIS.
