Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya, Sentenced to Death in Yemen for Murder, Has Her Sentence Revoked, According to Grand Mufti Office.
Nimisha Priya: The death sentence given to Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, in Yemen has now been completely revoked. This information was released in a statement by the office of Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar of India. The case has been in the international spotlight since 2018.
Sentenced to Death for Murder
Nimisha was accused of murdering her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, and then dismembering the body. In March 2018, she was convicted of murder. Subsequently, in 2020, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death.
Decision Made at High-Level Meeting in Yemen
According to news agency ANI, the Grand Mufti's office stated that the decision to revoke Nimisha Priya's sentence was taken at a high-level meeting in Sana, the capital of Yemen. However, official written confirmation of this decision from the Yemeni government is still pending. But the statement clarified that what was previously postponed has now been completely revoked.
Cautious Reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs
Sources associated with the Ministry of External Affairs of India have advised caution on this matter. They have stated that some information related to this case is being spread on social media by a few individuals, which is not accurate. Therefore, it is important to remain patient until official confirmation arrives.
Who is Nimisha Priya?
Nimisha Priya is a native of the Palakkad district of Kerala and is a nurse by profession. In 2008, she went to Yemen for employment. There, she started a clinic in partnership with a local citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi.
Strained Relations, Deteriorating Conditions
After the initial partnership, relations between Nimisha and Mahdi began to deteriorate. According to media reports, Mahdi began to harass Nimisha and publicly claimed to be her husband. Furthermore, he also seized Nimisha's passport to prevent her from returning to India.
Attempt to Retrieve Passport Led to Death
According to Yemeni authorities, in 2017, Nimisha attempted to sedate Mahdi in order to retrieve her passport. However, this attempt proved fatal as Mahdi died, possibly from a drug overdose. Subsequently, Yemeni police arrested Nimisha.
Legal Process and Death Sentence
In 2018, a Yemeni court found Nimisha guilty of murder, and in 2020, she was sentenced to death. The case came to the attention of international human rights organizations, and several social organizations began campaigning in her favor.
Situation Further Deteriorated in December 2024
In December 2024, the President of Yemen, Rashad al-Alimi, approved Nimisha's execution. Subsequently, in January 2025, Houthi rebel leader Mahdi al-Mashat also accepted it. This intensified activity at the religious, social, and diplomatic levels in India.
In India, many organizations and religious leaders appealed to the government to save Nimisha. In this direction, Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar played a particularly active role. Thanks to his efforts, a high-level meeting was held in Yemen, in which it was decided that Nimisha's death sentence is now completely revoked.
