Nimisha Priya Execution: Grand Mufti In Talks With Yemen Scholars, Pushes For Pardon
The Grand Mufti said that he is not considering the religion of Priya, but rather her humanity as he requested for her release. "We have demanded this as human beings. If such a demand is accepted, then it will be very easy for Muslims in India. Muslims and Hindus all live on the same platform here," he said.
Earlier, Congress leader KC Venugopal also hailed the postponement of the execution, saying that "whoever is involved," in saving the Kerala nurse's life is appreciated. "We got the information that Nimisha Priya's death sentence has been postponed. We all requested the Central government to intervene in the matter, but we got the information that Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram has intervened. Whosoever is involved in saving
the human life of the woman of Kerala is welcome," Venugopal said.
The Mufti's remarks come after sources told ANI earlier that the execution of the 37-year-old nurse from Kerala was postponed following the "concerted efforts" by the Government of India. The execution was earlier set to happen on July 16. According to the sources, the postponement provides additional time for her family to negotiate a mutually agreeable solution amidst ongoing diplomatic efforts by Indian officials as they maintained regular communication with Yemeni jail authorities and the prosecutor's office while navigating the sensitivities of the situation to secure this reprieve.
"In the case of Ms. Nimisha Priya, it has been learnt that the local authorities in Yemen have postponed the execution scheduled for July 16, 2025," the sources stated. On Monday, while giving the Union Government's submission on the case in the Supreme Court the Attorney General of India (AGI) stated that the Indian government is making every possible effort to help Priya.
He further informed the Court that talks are ongoing with Yemeni authorities, including the public prosecutor handling Priya's case, to secure a suspension of the execution order until negotiations can be pursued.
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Nimisha Priya Case Ms Priya travelled from Kerala's Palakkad to Yemen in 2011, hunting for a well-paying job to support her parents. After a few years in a hospital there, she set up her own medical clinic. Yemen laws require foreign nationals to partner with citizens to set up a business. Mr Mehdi was that business partner for her venture. There are also reports she later married him. READ | 'Pardon By Yemeni Man's Family Only Real Hope For Nimisha': Activist Either way, the relationship deteriorated rapidly after she accused him of harassment and stealing from her. Mr Mehdi, she claimed, then hid her passport so she couldn't leave. In 2017 Ms Priya tried to drug Mr Mehdi so she could recover the passport. Unfortunately he died under medication and the nurse - who tried to hide his body by cutting it up and dumping it in a water tank - was caught trying to flee the country. She was convicted of murder in March 2018 and sentenced to death two years later. What Is The Government Doing? The Indian government continues to do all it can to save Nimisha Priya. It is, however, running out of options. Attorney General R Venkataramani told the Supreme Court Monday "there is a point till which we can go... we have reached it". The court, hearing a plea by the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Council', was told the "only way" forward is if Mr Mehdi's family accept financial compensation.
