Kozhikode (Kerala) [India], July 15 (ANI): The Grand Mufti of India, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram, said he has appealed to Yemeni scholars to secure the release of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Kerala nurse convicted of murder and facing execution in Yemen. Following his intervention, the Grand Mufti claimed, news of her execution being postponed emerged.
Speaking to ANI, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad said he invoked the Islamic principle of Diyaat (compensation in lieu of execution) and requested the Yemeni authorities to accept the compensation offer from Priya’s family.
“In Islam, instead of killing, there is also a practice of giving Diyaat (compensation). I requested them to accept Diyaat, as the party here is ready for it. Talks are still ongoing about whether my request will be accepted. The date of execution was tomorrow, but it has now been postponed for some days,” he said.
The Grand Mufti stressed that his appeal was made on humanitarian grounds and not based on religious identity. “We have demanded this as human beings. If such a demand is accepted, then it will be very easy for Muslims in India. Muslims and Hindus all live on the same platform here,” he said.
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal also welcomed the postponement, crediting all those who intervened to save Priya’s life.
“We got the information that Nimisha Priya’s death sentence has been postponed. We all requested the Central government to intervene in the matter, but we got the information that Grand Mufti Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad Kanthapuram has intervened. Whoever is involved in saving the human life of the woman from Kerala is appreciated,” Venugopal told ANI.
Sources earlier told ANI that the postponement followed “concerted efforts” by the Government of India, which has been in regular contact with Yemeni jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office to seek a resolution. The execution was originally scheduled for July 16, and the reprieve now gives Priya’s family more time to negotiate an agreement.
“In the case of Ms. Nimisha Priya, it has been learnt that the local authorities in Yemen have postponed the execution scheduled for July 16, 2025,” sources said.
On Monday, India’s Attorney General told the Supreme Court that the government is making every possible effort to help Priya, including ongoing discussions with Yemeni authorities and the public prosecutor to secure a suspension of her execution until negotiations over compensation can take place.
(ANI)
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