The capital punishment of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been totally reversed by officials in Yemen, reports a statement from the office of Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar. "The death penalty of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been revoked," the office stated in a release.
"A high-ranking meeting convened in Sanaa resolved to revoke the death penalty that had temporarily been suspended beforehand," said Musliyar's office, claim reports.
This follows after her execution, previously set to take place on July 16, was put on hold temporarily, following an intervention by Grand Mufti AP Abubakker Muslaiyar, who asked Yemeni authorities to reconsider the sentence.
However, the office of the Grand Mufti says it is yet to receive formal written word from the Yemeni government, and the Union Ministry of External Affairs has also not confirmed the development.
It has been learnt from Indian government sources that the information being circulated by certain individuals regarding the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate and does not reflect the current status of the matter. They added that Nimisha Priya is still facing death penalty in Yemen.
Meanwhile, the family of Yemeni businessman Tallal Abdo Mahdi has also reacted to the recent claims that Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence has been overturned, calling it a baseless and unauthorised attempt to manipulate public sentiment. In a rebuttal to a statement made by the office of Musaliyar, Tallal’s brother, Abdul Fattah Mahdi, rejected any suggestion that a pardon had been granted.
Recently, reports suggested that Nimisha's 13-year-old daughter Mishel had went to Yemen in order to appeal to the authorities for her mother’s release. Accompanied by her father Tomy Thomas and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr KA Paul, the teenager is seeking mercy on behalf of her mother.
Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old Kerala woman from Palakkad district who had gone to Yemen in 2008 to find better job opportunities, opened a clinic in the capital Sanaa with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, after she partnered with him in business. She belongs to a Christian family.
Their relationship allegedly became strained after Mahdi started harassing her and openly stating that he was her husband. He also allegedly took her passport, limiting her freedom of movement and return to India.
Also read: Execution of Nimisha stayed, SC posts next hearing on Aug 14
Priya, according to Yemeni authorities, had tried to get back her passport in 2017 by drugging Mahdi. The case took a deadly turn when he succumbed to a suspected overdose of drugs. She was arrested, brought to trial, and convicted of murder in 2018.
Nimisha's case was in international limelight for years. She was given the death sentence by a Yemeni court in 2020. Attempts to salvage her gained strength in the last few months when Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi sanctioned her execution in December 2024. The issue was heated up when Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat sanctioned the same in January 2025. But her execution was delayed, after "concerted efforts" by the Government of India.
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