Kochi, Kerala, July 24, 2025 – In ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to secure the release of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen, representatives of prominent Yemeni Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz held fresh discussions last night with the family of the deceased Talal Abdul Mahdi.
The crucial meeting marks another attempt to persuade Talal’s family to accept ‘blood money’ (diya) – a compensation allowed under Islamic (Sharia) law – in exchange for pardoning Nimisha Priya and commuting her death sentence. This renewed dialogue comes after the execution, initially scheduled for July 16, 2025, was dramatically postponed following intensive last-minute interventions by various Indian and Yemeni religious and diplomatic channels.
Sources close to the negotiations indicated that the discussions are delicate and complex, as Talal’s family has, on previous occasions, expressed a firm stance on seeking ‘Qisas’ (retribution, or execution) as per Islamic law, rather than accepting financial compensation.
However, the involvement of a revered spiritual figure like Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, reportedly at the behest of India’s Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar, is seen as a significant step in fostering a compassionate resolution.
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, actively working to secure her release, has been a key facilitator in these efforts. The council recently approached the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) seeking permission to send a delegation, potentially including government officials, to Yemen to lead direct negotiations, citing the family’s socio-economic limitations in initiating effective talks independently.
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, was convicted in 2020 for the murder of Talal Abdul Mahdi, her former business partner, in 2017. Her final appeal was dismissed in November 2023. The case has garnered significant attention in India, with numerous appeals for diplomatic intervention and humanitarian consideration.
While the postponement of the execution offered a glimmer of hope, Nimisha Priya’s fate continues to hang in the balance, heavily dependent on the outcome of these ongoing negotiations with the victim’s family. The international community, along with Indian authorities, remains hopeful that a mutually agreeable solution can be reached.
