For now, Priya remains imprisoned in Sanaa, with her legal team and supporters hoping that international appeals and humanitarian considerations will ultimately lead to a reduction or revocation of the sentence
Fresh uncertainty has surfaced in the case of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, following claims by Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A.P. Abubakr Musliyar that her death sentence has been “completely overturned.”
The Grand Mufti’s office reportedly cited a high-level meeting held in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, where the supposed decision to cancel her execution was taken. However, no official statement or confirmation has been issued by the Yemeni authorities, nor by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Furthermore, the Grand Mufti’s official platforms have not published this update, casting further doubt on the credibility of the reports.
The only public mention came via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, which shared a news agency’s now-withdrawn tweet announcing the cancellation of the sentence
Indian Authorities Deny Confirmation
Indian officials involved in the case have expressed caution. A senior source familiar with the matter told media, “Information being shared by certain individuals on the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate.” The MEA had earlier stated it was closely following the case and had engaged legal counsel in Yemen to support Priya’s family in exploring options for clemency under Sharia law.
Unless verified by Yemeni judicial authorities, the reported cancellation of the death sentence cannot be considered binding, and efforts from the Indian side are likely to continue
Background: A Tragic Spiral
Nimisha Priya, now 37, hails from Palakkad district in Kerala. A qualified nurse, she had worked in Yemen for several years before being convicted of killing her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. According to Yemeni court records, she allegedly drugged and killed him in an attempt to retrieve her passport and return to India. She was sentenced to death in 2020 and her final appeal was rejected by the Supreme Judicial Council of Yemen in November 2023.
Her execution was scheduled for July 16, 2025, but was temporarily halted a day earlier following a humanitarian appeal made by the Grand Mufti.
Family’s Plea and Global Attention
The case drew widespread attention after Mishel, Nimisha’s 13-year-old daughter, travelled to Yemen alongside evangelist Dr. K.A. Paul, founder of the Global Peace Initiative. The duo made an emotional plea to Yemeni leaders for clemency. Mishel and her father had returned to India in 2014 due to financial difficulties, and were unable to return after the outbreak of civil war and visa restrictions.
Earlier this month, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the Indian government was making every effort to provide assistance, including legal support and diplomatic engagement, though options remain limited due to the absence of an Indian diplomatic mission in Yemen.
The Road Ahead
While the Grand Mufti’s intervention briefly raised hopes of a resolution, the lack of clarity has left Nimisha Priya’s fate hanging in the balance. Legal experts say that under Yemeni Sharia law, the family of the deceased can potentially pardon the accused in exchange for blood money, but such negotiations require delicate handling and official coordination.
