Execution of Nimisha Priya Temporarily Deferred Amidst High-Level Negotiations

In a significant development, Yemeni authorities have deferred the execution of Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old nurse from Kerala, who was facing imminent execution following her conviction for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. The execution, which was originally scheduled for 16 July 2025, has been postponed amidst last-minute diplomatic outreach and ongoing negotiations with the victim’s family under Yemen’s Sharia law, which permits pardon through the payment ‘blood money’ (diyah).

Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran, a Yemeni-based Malayali social worker involved in the discussions, confirmed to the media that the postponement was influenced by the intervention of Sheikh Abdul Malik Nahia, a leader of the tribal segment that the deceased Yemen national hailed from.

Further, last-minute humanitarian interventions were led by prominent Sunni cleric, the Grand Mufti of India and General Secretary of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama, Kanthapuram A P Abubaker Musaliyar, who reached out to influential religious figures in Yemen. Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz has now taken charge of negotiations with the victim’s family.

Significantly, a close relative of the deceased, who serves as Chief Justice of the Hodeidah State Court and is a member of the Yemeni Shura Council, has agreed to participate in the ongoing dialogue in Dhamar, the victim’s hometown.

The deferment provides a narrow window for intensified diplomatic dialogue and potentially a negotiated settlement with the victim’s family, which remains the sole viable legal avenue under Yemen’s judicial system.

This temporary reprieve offers a critical opportunity for intensified diplomatic engagement and a possible negotiated resolution, which remains the only lawful recourse under Yemeni jurisprudence. The Indian Supreme Court continues to monitor developments, while public appeals for contributions towards the diyah fund and calls for broader policy reform regarding expatriate protections have gained fresh momentum.

Source: Press