Despite widespread media reports suggesting a breakthrough, the Indian government has not officially confirmed the revocation of the death sentence handed to Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya, who is currently imprisoned in Yemen. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that diplomatic discussions are still ongoing and that it will respond once full details are available.
The office of Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar claimed a consensus had been reached during high-level mediation involving Yemeni religious scholars, northern Yemeni authorities, and international diplomatic officials. The talks were reportedly initiated at the request of Indian Grand Mufti Sheikh Umar Hafeel Thangal. Based on this, further decisions about Nimisha’s fate are expected to follow.
Nimisha’s execution, originally scheduled for July 16, was temporarily postponed following Kanthapuram’s intervention. However, the brother of the murdered Yemeni national, Talal Abdu Mahdi, has strongly refuted claims of any deal to revoke the sentence. He has demanded clarity regarding the discussions and written to the public prosecutor requesting a new execution date—an appeal he made public via Facebook.
Adding to the uncertainty, Yemeni social activist Samuel Jerome also dismissed reports of any confirmed revocation.
Nimisha Priya, hailing from Thekkinchira in Palakkad, Kerala, was convicted of murdering Talal in 2017 with the help of an accomplice. The victim’s body was reportedly hidden in a rooftop water tank, triggering one of the most high-profile international legal cases involving an Indian citizen.