Nimisha Priya case: Yemen cancels death sentence of Indian nurse, confirms office of 'Grand Mufti'

The government of Yemen has 'overturned' and 'completely' cancelled the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse convicted of murder, the office of 'Grand Mufti of India' , Sheikh Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, said on late Monday.

The execution, originally scheduled for July 16, was pushed back against the backdrop of diplomatic and humanitarian efforts by the Indian government.

The decision was reportedly made during a high-level meeting in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. India’s Attorney General R Venkataramani, speaking in the Supreme Court, said that efforts are ongoing to bring Nimisha back home safely. The court, which is hearing a request for stronger diplomatic steps, has scheduled the next hearing for August 14.

Priya was convicted of murdering Mahdi in July 2017. She had allegedly injected him with sedatives with the plan to retrieve her passport while he would be unconscious. But Mahdi died apparently from an overdose, following which Priya allegedly hid his body in a water tank.