NEW DELHI– In a critical development in the case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, her scheduled execution in Yemen has been temporarily suspended, her legal counsel Subhas Chandren confirmed on Tuesday.
“We have received a positive update from the negotiators,” Chandren told IANS. “The Yemeni authorities have paused the execution schedule for Nimisha Priya. While no new date has been set, this delay is a vital opportunity to continue discussions with the victim’s family regarding the payment of blood money.”
Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni citizen. Her case has drawn widespread attention in India and abroad, with civil society groups, activists, and international organizations calling for intervention to save her life.
Chandren acknowledged the efforts of the Indian government and key individuals working behind the scenes to facilitate a resolution.
“The central government has played an important role,” he said. “One key figure is Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, a prominent Sunni cleric from Kerala. His organization, Markaz, has led religious and diplomatic outreach efforts with Yemeni authorities.”
According to Chandren, Musliyar’s representatives held talks over the past two days with the victim’s brother and senior judicial officials in Yemen. “They have been engaging Yemeni sheikhs, Sufi clerics, and legal authorities to seek a path toward a settlement. Ultimately, the final decision now rests with the victim’s family, who must agree to accept the blood money,” he said.
Chandren expressed deep gratitude for the collective efforts. “We thank the Yemeni administration, Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, his Markaz team, and the Government of India. This extension brings renewed hope.”
On Monday, the Indian government told the Supreme Court it had reached the limits of its diplomatic efforts in the matter. Attorney General R. Venkataramani stated that the government was doing its “utmost possible” to save Priya.
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council continues to lead advocacy campaigns seeking her release.
Under Sharia law, “blood money” is a form of financial compensation offered to the family of a murder victim in exchange for a pardon — a recognized and lawful path to forgiveness in many Islamic legal systems. (Source: IANS)
