Nimisha Priya's death sentence may be revoked

Time of India

4 days ago

Kozhikode: In what could mark a breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to save nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing the death penalty in Yemen, an agreement has been reached to revoke her death sentence, according to the office of Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar, who had intervened in the matter through religious leaders in Yemen.
Kanthapuram office said the decision reportedly emerged in the talks attended by the Yemeni delegation of scholars appointed by Sheikh Habib Omar bin Hafeel at the request of Kanthapuram and key govt officials of Northern Yemen and international diplomatic representatives.
"Some crucial decisions have been made in the case of Nimisha Priya. Further decisions will be decided following continued negotiations with the family of the deceased Talal," Kanthapuram's office said.
Though official confirmation from India's ministry of external affairs is still awaited, sources close to Kanthapuram indicated that judicial authorities in Yemen were also involved in the discussions.
Earlier, the execution scheduled for July 16 was temporarily postponed following the intervention of Kanthapuram. It was Kanthapuram's office who had first released the order issued to postpone the death sentence.
Nimisha is on death row for the 2017 murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. Kanthapuram, who holds the title of Grand Mufti of India, made a last-ditch humanitarian plea by asking his close friend Sheikh Habib to persuade Mahdi's family to pardon Priya by accepting blood money.
Nimisha's daughter appeals to release her mother
Meanwhile, Nimisha Priya's daughter Mishel appealed to the Houthi administration in Yemen to release her mother from prison.
In a video released by evangelist K A Paul on Monday, Mishel, appeared along with her father, Paul and religious leaders in Yemen. Mishel is studying in a residential school in Kothamangalam.
"Please release my mother as early as possible. I want to meet her. I miss you, Mommy. I love you, Mommy," Mishel says in an emotional appeal in the video. The video begins with Paul addressing Houthi rebel leaders, expressing gratitude to the leadership.