The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has denied claims made by the Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar, that Yemeni authorities have cancelled the death sentence of Indian national Nimisha Priya. MEA sources told media on Tuesday that the reports circulating about the case are ‘inaccurate’.
No Official Confirmation from Yemeni Government
According to the MEA, no official communication has yet been received from the Yemeni government regarding any changes to Priya’s legal status. ‘Information being shared by certain individuals on the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,’ the MEA stated. The clarification comes in response to a statement made on Monday by the Grand Mufti, who claimed that Priya’s execution had been completely overturned.
Execution Postponed, Not Cancelled
Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2018 for the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. Her execution was scheduled for July 16, 2025, but was postponed following diplomatic interventions from Indian Embassy in Yemen, including efforts by the Grand Mufti in coordination with an influential Yemeni sheikh.
Reports earlier suggested that a high-level meeting held in Sana’a attended by senior Yemeni scholars, northern rulers, and international diplomats had led to key decisions in the case. However, official Yemeni confirmation remains pending.
Background of the Case
Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 and entered into a professional partnership with Mahdi in 2015 to co-manage a medical clinic. Due to Yemeni legal restrictions on foreign ownership, Mahdi’s participation was necessary. Over time, Priya alleged that the partnership turned abusive, accusing Mahdi of seizing her passport, misusing clinic funds, and subjecting her to physical and sexual abuse.
In July 2017, in an attempt to retrieve her passport and escape Yemen, Priya injected Mahdi with sedatives. However, the dosage proved fatal.
Appeal Rejections and Judicial Proceedings
Nimisha Priya was arrested in August 2017 at a border checkpoint. In 2018, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death, citing the unauthorized administration of lethal drugs and her attempt to hide the act. Her appeals were dismissed in 2020 and again in 2023. In November 2023, Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the execution order, setting the date for July 16, 2025.
Priya’s family has been actively negotiating with Mahdi’s relatives in hopes of securing a pardon through the payment of diya (blood money) as permitted under Shariat law. However, the victim’s family, particularly Mahdi’s brother, has remained firm in demanding retributive justice.
Grand Mufti’s Claims Under Scrutiny
The Grand Mufti’s office had earlier claimed that a significant breakthrough was achieved in Sana’a following religious and diplomatic discussions, and that Priya’s execution had been fully overturned. However, the MEA’s sharp denial has cast doubt on those claims, emphasizing the absence of any formal communication from Yemen.
As the case continues to unfold, the Indian government awaits official confirmation from Yemeni authorities while maintaining its efforts to ensure the safety and legal rights of its citizen.