Kanthapuram claims Yemen has overturned Nimisha Priya’s death sentence

Hope Rises for Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya as Yemeni Court Commutes Death Sentence, Says Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker

In a significant development that has brought a wave of relief and hope to her family and supporters, prominent Indian Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar has announced that a Yemeni appellate court has commuted the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse convicted for the murder of a Yemeni national. The announcement, made on Tuesday, marks a potential turning point in a long and arduous legal battle that has captivated the nation and highlighted the complexities of international justice.

According to Kanthapuram, the head of the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama, who has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts, the court in Yemen has accepted the appeal filed by Nimisha’s defense team. The reported decision would overturn the capital punishment and could lead to a retrial or a negotiated settlement involving *diyya*, or blood money, as per Yemeni law. “We have received positive news from our channels in Yemen. The court has shown mercy, and the death sentence has been set aside. This is a crucial first step towards securing Nimisha’s full freedom and eventual return to India,” Kanthapuram stated from Kozhikode. He credited the outcome to relentless behind-the-scenes negotiations and the efforts of a special committee, ‘Save Nimisha Priya,’ which has been working to raise funds for the blood money.

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in 2020 by a Yemeni court for the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen, in 2017. Her defense has maintained that the death was an accidental outcome of a botched injection attempt intended to retrieve her passport from Mahdi, who was allegedly withholding it. They argue she was a victim of exploitation and was attempting to escape his control. The news has been met with cautious optimism by Nimisha’s family in Palakkad, Kerala. “We have lived in fear for years. This news is like a ray of sunlight after a long, dark night. We pray that this is true and that the next steps happen quickly to bring my daughter home,” said Nimisha’s mother, Prema Kumari.

However, official confirmation from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is still pending. When contacted, an MEA spokesperson said, “We are aware of the media reports and are urgently seeking verification through our official channels in Yemen. Our embassy continues to provide all possible consular assistance to Nimisha Priya.” Legal experts caution that while overturning the death sentence is a monumental victory, the journey is not over. The case will likely now enter a phase focused on reconciliation. Under Sharia law, the victim’s family has the right to accept diyya as compensation, which would formally clear the path for Nimisha’s pardon and release. The ‘Save Nimisha Priya’ committee has been actively fundraising to meet the expected blood money amount. This latest development will likely galvanize further efforts to gather the necessary funds and secure a formal agreement with the victim’s family through Yemeni tribal elders. The case underscores the critical importance of persistent diplomatic engagement and cultural mediation in resolving international legal crises. For now, a nation watches and waits, hoping that a daughter, a mother, and a nurse is one step closer to coming home.