Grand Mufti of India seeks President, PM’s help to save Nimisha Priya
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Thiruvananthapuram: As diplomatic efforts intensify following a temporary halt to the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, the Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, is reaching out to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to seek their intervention in the next phase of the mission to secure her release.
Priya, a native of Palakkad district in Kerala, was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. The incident, reportedly triggered by personal and professional disputes, led to her being sentenced to death. Yemeni court documents allege that Priya drugged Mahdi and, with the help of another nurse, dismembered his body and disposed of the remains in an underground tank. Her final appeal was rejected in 2023, and her execution was initially scheduled for July 16, 2025.
Thanks to early interventions, including those by the Grand Mufti and other parties, Yemeni authorities recently stayed the execution. The order came just a day before the initially set execution date of July 16 this year. This marked a crucial breakthrough, paving the way for a second phase of diplomatic and humanitarian engagement.
According to Jawad Mustafawy, a close aide of the Grand Mufti and an expert in Islamic philosophy who has studied in Yemen, a formal letter from the Mufti seeking help from the President and Prime Minister will be sent on Tuesday. Mustafawy noted that the Grand Mufti had earlier contacted renowned Yemeni Sufi cleric Shaikh Habeeb Ummer, who has visited India multiple times and holds significant influence in Yemen. Ummer’s intervention was instrumental in speeding up developments.
Mustafawy said a Yemeni team, including women representatives delegated by Shaikh Ummer, will soon visit the family of the deceased to explore the possibilities of reconciliation and further easing tensions. He also stated that in his letter to the President and Prime Minister, the Mufti is seeking clearance to send a delegation from India to Yemen. This team will include members of the Nimisha Action Council, Delhi-based advocate Subhash Chandra, and two individuals nominated by the Mufti.
In addition, a memorandum signed by Priya’s immediate family members, political leaders, and concerned citizens is being prepared to be sent to Yemen, expressing gratitude to the authorities for staying the execution.
With the execution now deferred and a renewed diplomatic effort underway, attention is firmly on the role the Centre will play in the coming weeks to ensure the safe return of Nimisha Priya.
With IANS inputs
