Will President Murmu and PM Modi Intervene in Nimisha Priya's Case?

Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 (NationPress) Following the success of initial efforts that led Yemeni authorities to suspend the execution order of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, the second phase of negotiations is now underway, with the involvement of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Priya, hailing from Palakkad district in Kerala, was sentenced in 2020 for the alleged murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, and has been imprisoned since then.

She was facing execution on July 16.

The intervention of Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, the Grand Mufti of India, played a pivotal role in the initial success, as the stay of execution was granted just one day before the scheduled date.

In an interview with IANS, Jawad Mustafawy, a close associate of the Mufti who has studied Islamic Philosophy in Yemen, confirmed that a letter soliciting assistance from the President and PM Modi will be dispatched on Tuesday.

"Our primary goal is to ensure Priya's release, and we are actively engaged in this cause. It was the Mufti who made the initial contact with renowned Yemeni Sufi cleric Shaikh Habeeb Ummer, who has visited the Mufti several times. After his involvement, progress has accelerated," Mustafawy stated, serving as the intermediary between the Mufti and Ummer.

"Currently, the second phase has commenced, with a team of Yemeni nationals, including women appointed by Ummer, expected to visit the family of the deceased in the coming days to facilitate discussions aimed at resolution," Mustafawy elaborated.

In the correspondence addressed to the President and PM Modi, the Mufti has requested authorization to send a delegation, which will include members of the Nimisha Action Council, advocate Subhash Chandra from Delhi, and two representatives designated by the Mufti. Clearance from the Central Government is sought for this initiative," Mustafawy added.

Simultaneously, a memorandum expressing gratitude for the intervention that led to the execution's suspension is being prepared, with signatures from Priya's immediate family, political figures, and supporters.

Court documents from Yemen allege that Priya drugged Talal and, with the assistance of another nurse, dismembered his remains before disposing of them in an underground tank.

This incident reportedly arose from personal and professional conflicts.

Her final appeal was dismissed in 2023, with her execution now rescheduled for July 16, 2025. The focus is now on the path ahead and the response from the Central Government.