In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, has been officially overturned and completely cancelled. The announcement was made by the office of the Indian Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar, on Monday, bringing a wave of relief to Priya’s family and supporters.
According to the Grand Mufti’s office, the decision followed a high-level meeting held in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, where authorities resolved to cancel the previously suspended death sentence. “The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier,” the official statement read.
Nimisha Priya was convicted in June 2018 for the murder of a Yemeni national and sentenced to death — a verdict that was upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Her execution was scheduled for July 16, 2025, but was postponed after strong intervention and diplomatic efforts by the Government of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had taken an active role in the case, extending legal and consular support to Priya and her family. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed on July 17 that a lawyer had been appointed to guide Priya’s legal team through the complex legal system in Yemen, which includes the possibility of clemency or a pardon under Sharia law.
The MEA’s consistent efforts, along with advocacy from human rights organizations, and support from the Indian diaspora, played a crucial role in delaying the execution and ultimately securing the cancellation of the sentence. Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar also played a key role in engaging with Yemeni authorities on humanitarian grounds.
Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse, had worked in private hospitals in Yemen for several years before the incident. Her case had drawn national and international attention, prompting widespread campaigns and appeals for her release, with many citing the need for compassion and justice in light of complex circumstances surrounding the case.
With the death sentence now officially cancelled, the focus will likely shift to securing her safe return to India and navigating any remaining legal formalities in Yemen.
