The Supreme Court informed on Thursday that there is no immediate threat to the life of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who is currently facing a death sentence in Yemen over a murder charge.
This update came from the lawyer representing the ‘Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council’, a group providing legal assistance to her. The lawyer indicated that negotiations are ongoing and requested the court to delay the hearing for four weeks, expressing hope that the situation could be resolved by then.
Recently, there were claims from Aboobacker Musaliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, that Nimisha’s death sentence had been overturned. However, officials close to the case clarified that this information was not accurate.
Nimisha, who lives in Palakkad, was convicted in 2020 for the alleged murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national. Her execution had been scheduled for July 16 of this year but was postponed thanks to diplomatic efforts from Indian authorities, along with assistance from the Grand Mufti.
During a recent court session, a petition was presented asking the Indian government to take diplomatic steps to save her. The lawyer representing the petitioners stated they would return to the Supreme Court if the situation became urgent. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta then scheduled the next hearing for eight weeks later.
After the delay in her execution, the Grand Mufti mentioned that efforts are still being made to completely overturn her death sentence by securing a pardon from the family of the victim. Under Yemeni law, a form of compensation known as “blood money” can sometimes be offered. Reports suggest that Nimisha’s family is willing to pay ₹8.6 crore to the Mahdi family.
The Grand Mufti stated, “In Islam, instead of taking a life, there is also a way to provide compensation. I have asked them to accept it, and discussions are ongoing regarding this request.”
Efforts continue to prevent Nimisha Priya’s planned execution and bring her back to India safely.
