New diplomatic and religious efforts aim to free Nimisha Priya from death sentence
Grand Mufti writes to Indian President Murmu to facilitate delegation to Yemen
Dubai: The dramatic postponement of Nimisha Priya’s execution in Yemen has triggered a second phase of efforts — diplomatic, religious, and humanitarian — to secure her release and return to India.
At the centre of this mission are India’s Grand Mufti, evangelist Dr KA Paul and senior government officials, each working separate but converging channels to save the Kerala nurse from the gallows.
Priya, convicted in 2020 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner Talal Abdo Mahdi, was scheduled to be executed on July 16, 2025. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023, and the Yemeni courts ordered her execution to proceed. But just a day before the scheduled hanging, the execution was suddenly stayed, thanks to what insiders describe as “ten days of day-and-night efforts” from multiple quarters.
Grand Mufti’s religious outreach
Among the first to move was Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, who leveraged his religious influence and past relationships with Yemeni Islamic scholars. He reached out to Shaikh Habeeb Ummer, a respected Sufi cleric from Yemen and a past guest of the Mufti’s in India.
“I urged them to accept Diya [blood compensation] instead of execution, which is a practice in Islam,” said the Grand Mufti. “I didn’t look at her religion. I looked at her humanity.”
How diya works:
Applicable cases:
In intentional or unintentional homicide.
The victim’s family is given a choice:
Qisas (retribution) – the death penalty.
Diya (compensation) – forgiveness in exchange for money.
Pardon without compensation (least common).
Who decides?
Only the legal heirs of the victim can decide to accept Diya.
If even one heir refuses, the death penalty may still apply.
Court involvement:
The offer of Diya must be formally approved by a Yemeni court.
The court also verifies the validity of the heirs’ consent.
Negotiations:
The amount of Diya is not fixed in Yemen. It is often negotiated between the offender’s side and the victim’s family.
Religious leaders or neutral mediators (like the Grand Mufti or respected local sheikhs) often help facilitate dialogue.
Payment and release:
Once a written agreement is signed and Diya is paid, the victim’s family pardons the convict.
The court then commutes the death sentence, usually to imprisonment or deportation.
In some cases, the prisoner can be released entirely, depending on the remaining sentence.
His request appears to have played a key role. According to his aide Jawad Mustafawy, the Yemeni cleric responded positively, and shortly afterward, news arrived that the execution was postponed. A Yemeni team — including female delegates handpicked by Shaikh Ummer — is now expected to meet the victim’s family in Yemen to open dialogue.
The Mufti’s team is now preparing a formal letter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting clearance for an Indian delegation to travel to Yemen. This team will include Nimisha Action Council members, Delhi-based advocate Subhash Chandra, and two representatives nominated by the Mufti himself.
KA Paul declares: 'death sentencecancelled'
Adding another dramatic layer to the story, Evangelist and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul released a video from Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, claiming that the death sentence has been cancelled, not just delayed.
“By God’s grace, Nimisha Priya will be released and returned to India,” said Dr Paul. “I want to thank Prime Minister Modi ji for preparing to send diplomats to bring her back professionally and safely.”
He credited the breakthrough to “ten days of round-the-clock prayerful efforts” by Indian and Yemeni leaders and offered logistical support to fly Priya out via Oman, Egypt, Iran, Jeddah, or Turkey in collaboration with the Indian government.
Paul also thanked Yemeni officials for their “powerful” support and said the mission was nearing success.
Indian Government’s diplomatic push
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), which had maintained a cautious tone throughout, confirmed last week that India is “actively engaged” in helping Priya’s family navigate the complex legal and religious framework in Yemen.
“We have provided legal assistance, appointed a lawyer, arranged regular consular visits, and are in touch with the family and Yemeni authorities,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “Our efforts helped secure more time for negotiations.”
While officials call the case “extremely sensitive,” the MEA’s role in securing a stay — alongside the religious interventions of the Grand Mufti and KA Paul — paints a picture of multi-layered diplomacy involving both faith-based mediation and legal maneuvering.
What lies ahead
With the execution on hold, all eyes are now on negotiations with the victim’s family. Under Yemeni Sharia law, the family of the deceased has the right to accept Diya (blood money) in exchange for clemency. The Indian side hopes the next few weeks will see a breakthrough on this front.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of gratitude is being prepared by Priya’s family, public supporters and politicians to be sent to Yemeni authorities for their cooperation so far.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, too, welcomed the stay and praised both religious and diplomatic actors, particularly Grand Mufti Kanthapuram and the Action Council, for their tireless advocacy.
For now, Nimisha Priya remains in prison in Sanaa, her life hanging delicately between justice and mercy. But the convergence of legal aid, spiritual diplomacy, and international cooperation offers the best hope yet — that her journey back to India may finally be within reach.
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