Nimisha Priya case: Why Yemen paused death row convict's July 16 execution

Nimisha is currently locked up in a prison controlled by the Houthi administration in Yemen's capital Sana’a.

The execution of an Indian nurse, Nimisha Priya, convicted in the murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi in 2018, which was set to be carried out on July 16, was postponed.

According to reports, the Kerala nurse’s execution was halted by the authorities in Yemen. However, the fresh date for her execution was not immediately known. Hectic parleys were on to delay the sentencing.

The Indian government has been making concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for Priya’s family to reach a “mutually agreeable solution with the other party”. However, on Monday, the Centre said it had done all it could to save her. She is currently in Sanaa, the Houthi-held capital of Yemen. India does not have any diplomatic relations with the Houthi rebels.

The family of Talal Abdo Mehdi - the Yemeni man who Nimisha Priya reportedly killed - has been offered $1 million (Rs 8.6 crore) as 'blood money' or financial compensation. The family, however, had refused.

According to reports, Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, known as the “Grand Mufti of India”, reportedly intervened in the case on Tuesday, in a bid to facilitate discussions in Yemen that could potentially stop or pause her execution.

Why was the execution paused?

Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council who has been based in Yemen since 1999 and co-ordinating the efforts to secure the release of Priya, told Indian Express the decision to postpone her execution did not involve Mahdi’s family.

According to Baskaran, the Yemeni government took the decision after Abdul Malik Al Nehaya, ruler of the Al Wasab region, met the President of Yemen. President Rashad al-Alimi then consented to defer the execution. “The Indian government also got involved in this mission. There was a directive from the Yemen authorities not to disclose the details,” he said.

Sources told IE that the communication regarding deferring the execution was delayed to avoid a law and order situation. “Talal’s family has not pardoned the woman so far. Many people were proceeding to the prison to witness the execution on Wednesday. Hence, any disclosure of the decision to defer the execution at an early date would have created a law and order issue,’’ sources said.

Meanwhile, a report by Hindustan Times, said it is thanks to the “Grand Mufti” holding talks with religious authorities in Yemen, that the talks with the murder victim's family can be initiated. The discussions will centre around blood money, an acceptable provision under Yemen’s Sharia law.

According to PTI, the discussions will take place in Dhamar, the murder victim's hometown and his family will be represented by a member who is also the Chief Justice of the Hodeidah State Court and a member of the Yemeni Shura Council.