The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse imprisoned in Yemen, has been officially overturned, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A P Abubakker Muslaiyar confirmed on Tuesday.
In a statement cited by ANI, the Grand Mufti’s office said,
“The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been completely cancelled following a high-level meeting held in Sanaa.”
ANI also shared this update on X (formerly Twitter):
Priya, 37, was scheduled for execution on July 16, after being convicted of killing a Yemeni national in 2018—a verdict upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, her execution was postponed after the Grand Mufti mediated with Yemeni clerics and the victim’s family, with active support from the Government of India.
Earlier on July 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had assured that it was working closely on Priya’s case. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said,
“The government had appointed a lawyer to help her family pursue legal remedies, including clemency or pardon under Sharia law.”
Who is Nimisha Priya?
A trained nurse from Kerala, Priya moved to Yemen for work and later partnered with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2015 to open a clinic in Sanaa. Under Yemeni law, foreigners cannot run businesses independently, making the partnership a necessity.
However, the relationship turned abusive. According to her family, Mahdi misused a wedding photo from India to falsely claim marriage, seized control of her clinic, and subjected her to months of physical abuse, drug-induced assaults, and passport confiscation, leaving her trapped in Yemen.
In 2018, Priya reportedly tried to retrieve her passport by sedating Mahdi. A higher dose of sedatives led to his death, resulting in her arrest and death sentence for murder.
Civil War and Separation from Family
Priya’s husband and minor daughter returned to India in 2014 due to financial constraints. That same year, Yemen descended into civil war, halting visa issuance and preventing their return.
What’s Next?
With the death sentence now revoked, Priya’s legal team is expected to pursue her release under Yemeni law. The case has garnered significant attention in India, highlighting the complex legal and humanitarian challenges faced by Indians abroad in conflict zones.
👉 Want to know more about this case’s earlier developments? Read here:
🔗 Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya’s Execution in Yemen Postponed: India Secures Temporary Relief
