Big relief for Nimisha Priya, execution postponed; intervention of Kanthapuram turned crucial

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is a big relief for Nimisha Priya, a nurse jailed in a murder case, as her execution has been postponed. The action council has confirmed it. The central government have also confirmed this. Her execution was earlier decided to implement on July 16. Following the intervention of Kanthapuram Abooubacker Musliar, a meeting was held today to avoid her execution. It is reported that the execution of the sentence was postponed after this. Mediation talks with the family of the murdered Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi were held today. Nimisha Priya's husband Tommy told media that he is relieved on the sentence being postponed.

The relative representing Mahdi’s family is the Chief Justice of the Hodeidah State Court and a member of the Yemeni Shura Council. He travelled to Dhamar for the discussions on Sufi leader Sheikh Habib Umar’s advice. India does not have an embassy in Yemen. Nimisha Priya is in a prison in Sanaa, which is under the control of the Houthis. They do not have diplomatic recognition. The Centre had sent a letter to the Yemeni Public Prosecutor to suspend the execution. The help of a sheikh was sought, but none of these were fruitful.

She was awarded death penalty in the murder case of Talal Abdo Mahdi in July 2017. The civil war-torn Yemeni capital, Sanaa, is under the control of Houthi rebels. The Indian embassy is in neighboring Djibouti. Nimisha Priya went to Yemen as a nurse in 2012 after marrying Tommy of Thodupuzha. After meeting Talal Abdo Mahdi, the two decided to start a clinic as partners. Transferred all their savings. Nimisha Priya, who came to her hometown with her family to find more money, returned alone.

Talal had made others believe that Nimisha Priya was his wife. He made a fake marriage certificate. He also performed the marriage according to religious rituals after threatening her. He stole her passport and sold her gold. Nimisha Priya, who filed a complaint, was brutally harassed. According to Nimisha Priya, Talal died when she defended him at a point where her life was in danger.