Aden ــ scheduled execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen on July 16, 2025, has been postponed indefinitely, following last-minute diplomatic and religious interventions.

Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala, was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. 

The case drew international attention due to allegations of abuse, forged documents, and a desperate attempt by Priya to retrieve her confiscated passport, which tragically led to Mahdi’s death by overdose.

Despite the Yemeni Supreme Court upholding her death sentence in 2023, efforts led by Indian officials, activists, and religious leaders—including Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar—have helped delay the execution. Negotiations are now underway to persuade the victim’s family to accept blood money (diyya), a legal alternative to capital punishment under Yemeni law.

Priya’s family, including her mother who has been in Yemen for over a year, expressed cautious relief but remain deeply concerned about her safety and the fragile nature of the talks. The Indian government continues to support the case through private channels, given the complex diplomatic landscape in Yemen.

While the postponement offers a glimmer of hope, Priya’s fate still hangs in the balance. Advocates stress that only the victim’s family can grant a pardon, and time is of the essence.