India seeks help from friendly nations to save Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen

After execution is postponed New Delhi pushed for last-minute resolution

Last updated:
Stephen N R, Senior Associate Editor
3 MIN READ
All-out efforts underway to save Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen.
All-out efforts underway to save Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen.
Source: Onmanorama

Dubai: As the fate of Nimisha Priya — a 37-year-old Indian nurse sentenced to death in Yemen — hangs in the balance, the Government of India has ramped up diplomatic efforts, engaging with “some friendly governments” in an urgent attempt to save her life.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday confirmed that Yemeni authorities have postponed the scheduled execution, which was initially set for July 16.

“This is a very sensitive matter,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “The Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal aid, appointed a lawyer, and facilitated regular consular access for her family,” according to an ANI report.

Jaiswal added that India has made “concerted efforts” in recent days to seek more time so that the family can reach a mutually acceptable solution with the victim’s family. “We are also in touch with some friendly governments in this regard,” he said, though he declined to comment on the specific role of the Grand Mufti of India.

That role, however, was confirmed by the Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram himself, who told ANI that he had spoken to scholars and religious leaders in Yemen urging them to accept diya (blood money) as permitted in Islamic law, instead of pursuing execution.

“In Islam, there is a provision for diya,” the Grand Mufti said. “I urged them to accept it as the party here is willing to offer it. The execution date was tomor-row, but it has now been postponed for a few days.”

He added that his appeal was rooted in humanity, not religion, saying, “I am not looking at her religion. I only saw the person, and the pain. I appealed to spare her life.”

Earlier reports had suggested that India’s diplomatic channels were working to secure more time for negotiations. Sources said Indian officials were in regular contact with jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office in Yemen, carefully navigating the legal and cultural sensitivities involved.

Nimisha Priya was convicted of murdering her former employer, a Yemeni national, in 2017. Her family has since been seeking a pardon in exchange for blood money, a practice recognized in Yemen under Islamic law, but only with the consent of the victim’s family.

With time running out, India’s diplomatic efforts now hinge on securing acceptance of the blood money deal — a step that could commute her death sen-tence to life or even result in her release.

What is the case about?

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was convicted of murdering a Yemeni national in a case that dates back several years. Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the trial court’s ruling in November 2023, paving the way for her execution by July 16, 2025.

According to reports, Priya allegedly acted in self-defence following abuse and exploitation by the deceased. However, Yemeni courts found her guilty of premeditated murder, a crime that carries the death penalty under Yemeni law.

Role of the Grand Mufti

The government’s push for a reprieve has been complemented by religious and humanitarian appeals. On Tuesday, the Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram, stated that he had personally reached out to Islamic scholars in Yemen to request the victim’s family accept “Diya” (blood money) as compensation instead of pursuing execution.

“In Islam, instead of taking a life, there is the practice of Diya. I urged them to accept it, and talks are underway,” the Grand Mufti told ANI.

Stephen N R
Stephen N RSenior Associate Editor
A Senior Associate Editor with more than 30 years in the media, Stephen N.R. curates, edits and publishes impactful stories for Gulf News — both in print and online — focusing on Middle East politics, student issues and explainers on global topics. Stephen has spent most of his career in journalism, working behind the scenes — shaping headlines, editing copy and putting together newspaper pages with precision. For the past many years, he has brought that same dedication to the Gulf News digital team, where he curates stories, crafts explainers and helps keep both the web and print editions sharp and engaging.
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