Can Kerala Muslim Scholar Save Malayali Nurse Nimisha Priya from Execution in Yemen?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nimisha Priya faces imminent execution in Yemen.
- Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar is mediating for her release.
- An urgent meeting aims to secure a pardon from the victim's family.
- The case has garnered significant attention in India.
- Ongoing negotiations offer a glimmer of hope.
Thiruvananthapuram, July 14 (NationPress) With only days left until the impending execution of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, a beacon of hope has appeared as the distinguished Kerala Muslim scholar and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, intervenes to mediate for her release.
In response to the scholar’s appeal, an urgent meeting is currently taking place in northern Yemen, led by the esteemed Yemeni Sufi cleric Shaikh Habeeb Ummer. The discussions are focused on securing a pardon for Nimisha Priya from the family of the victim, Talal Abdo Mahdi, who she was convicted of murdering in 2017.
The vital negotiations involve Habeeb Abdurahman Ali Mashhour, a representative of Shaikh Habeeb, alongside Yemeni government officials, a judge from the Jinayat court, local tribal leaders, and Talal’s brother.
Per a statement from Kanthapuram’s office, the Grand Mufti has personally appealed to the victim’s family for forgiveness, suggesting the payment of blood money (diya), which is customarily sought in such circumstances under Islamic law.
Nimisha Priya, hailing from Palakkad district in Kerala, was found guilty in 2020 of murdering her Yemeni business associate.
Yemeni court records claim that she drugged Talal and, with the assistance of another nurse, dismembered his remains, which were then concealed in an underground tank.
The incident reportedly arose from both personal and professional conflicts. Her final appeal was dismissed in 2023, and her execution is set for July 16, 2025.
This case has sparked significant attention across India, leading to demands for diplomatic intervention and humanitarian considerations.
Kanthapuram’s office has expressed hope that the ongoing talks could lead to a favorable result, potentially saving Nimisha’s life.
As the clock ticks towards her execution, this mediation is perceived as a critical last effort to secure her release through negotiation and clemency.