Relief for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya as Yemen overturns death penalty in murder case

In a major development in the case of Indian national Nimisha Priya, the death sentence previously handed to her by a Yemeni court was overturned on Monday, according to the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar.

“The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has now been completely cancelled,” read a statement from the Grand Mufti's office. The decision was reportedly taken at a high-level meeting held in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.

Priya, a nurse from Kerala’s Palakkad district, was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner in 2017. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023, and her execution was earlier scheduled for July 16. However, the Supreme Court of India was informed on July 18 that the execution had been stayed.


Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, had told a Supreme Court bench that “efforts are on” to secure Priya’s release and safe return. The apex court, hearing a plea to push diplomatic intervention, posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.

The case had drawn nationwide attention, with growing appeals from humanitarian groups, activists, and religious leaders urging the Indian government to intervene.