Today: 6 October 2025
15 July 2025
3 mins read

Execution Deferred for Kerala Nurse in Yemen

Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen, facing the death penalty for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017….reports Asian Lite News

It was a race against time, and after a lengthy period of multipronged negotiations, the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, which was to happen on Wednesday, has been kept in abeyance.

Numerous efforts from several quarters, which included full support of the Indian government, besides agencies based in Saudi Arabia and religious intervention from the Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen’s Shoora Council to help mediate, all led to the decision.

According to the fresh order that came out soon after negotiations ended on Tuesday, the execution of Priya, which was fixed for Wednesday, has been kept in abeyance until further orders.

The order has been signed by the Prison Execution officer and the local judge of the court in Yemen.

The Indian diplomatic officials, who were part of the negotiation that took place, said talks will continue, and the officials said the Indian government has stretched maximum for this relief.

Meanwhile, it has been reliably learned that the next part of the negotiation will centre around the blood money that will be given.

Expressing happiness was Priya’s husband, Tomy Thomas, who said, “We are all happy and we also know there are a lot more things to happen. Local person Sabu M. Jerome, who coordinated all the conciliation meetings, said he wishes to thank the Governments of Yemen, the Indian government and the top people who got involved from Saudi Arabia.”

“All other news which is being heard in the media is not true. The role played by the Indian government is huge,” said Jerome.

Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen, facing the death penalty for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017.

The talks involved the local Chief Justice of the Yemeni court, a senior cleric from the influential Shoora Council, and members of Mehdi’s family.

According to a member of the village council in Palakkad, Priya’s hometown, discussions have begun with the hope that Mehdi’s family will agree to accept blood money — a provision in Islamic law that could allow her execution, scheduled for Wednesday, to be deferred or cancelled.

Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar also intervened and spoke to the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday.

A Kerala billionaire, M.A. Yusuf Ali, also expressed his willingness to chip in with whatever financial support is needed.

Efforts to intervene further gained momentum, due to Kerala’s Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen’s Shoora Council to help mediate.

Since the announcement of the execution date, politicians across party lines in Kerala have appealed to the Union government and the President of India for urgent intervention.

The matter was also heard in the Supreme Court of India on Monday.

Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family and initially worked as a nurse before opening her own clinic.

In 2017, following a dispute with Mehdi — her business partner — she allegedly administered sedatives to him in a bid to retrieve her confiscated passport.

The sedatives proved fatal. She was arrested while attempting to flee the country and was convicted of murder in 2018.

A death sentence was handed down in 2020 and upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.

However, the court allowed the possibility of clemency through a blood money arrangement.

The case has sparked national and international concern, underscoring the vulnerability of Indian migrant workers in conflict-ridden regions. Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, has played a central role in the campaign to save her daughter, even travelling to Sanaa to try and negotiate directly with the victim’s family.

She is being supported by a coalition of NRI activists and social workers operating under the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council.

Previous Story

UN Chief: Gaza Situation ‘Horrific’

Next Story

Qatar: No Set Deadline for Gaza Talks

Latest from -Top News

Piyush Goyal Heads to Doha for Trade Talks

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement (FTA)….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Doha, Qatar, on

Hamas Heads to Egypt for Gaza Talks

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan…reports Asian Lite News A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

Tommy Robinson to Visit Israel

The invitation comes from Amichai Chikli, Israel’s minister for the diaspora and combating antisemitism, who described Robinson as a “courageous leader on the front line against radical Islam…reports Asian Lite News An
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Indian Students Pursue Global Education in Record Numbers

How International Education Helps Indian Students? International education offers a

In G20 meet, 3 health sector priorities by India gain support

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya delivered the keynote address at