The scheduled execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was postponed just ahead of its planned date—Wednesday, July 16, 2025—following interventions by the Indian government and Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar.
Nimisha, on death row in Yemen, was convicted for the 2017 killing of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. In 2020, she was sentenced to death, and her appeal was dismissed by the Houthi-controlled Supreme Judicial Council in 2023. With limited diplomatic ties between India and Yemen, the intervention by the Grand Mufti has created a new window for potential clemency.
The Mufti appealed to Yemeni authorities to engage with the victim’s family to explore the Islamic provision of ‘Diyya’—a form of forgiveness or pardon offered by the deceased’s family.
Declaring his actions as a “national responsibility,” Sheikh Aboobacker said India has historically seen positive outcomes from similar reconciliatory efforts in Gulf nations. His involvement followed a request by Kerala MLA Chandy Oommen, who approached him seeking help. The Grand Mufti then reached out to world-renowned Sufi scholar Habib Umar bin Hafeez, whose office initiated contact with North Yemeni officials and the victim’s family.
Efforts are now underway to secure a compassionate resolution that may save Nimisha from capital punishment.