The Indian government has confirmed that the scheduled execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, has been temporarily postponed. The announcement came from Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during his weekly media briefing.

“This is a sensitive matter. We have extended all possible legal assistance and also appointed a lawyer to help the family,” Jaiswal said. “We are in constant touch with the local Yemeni authorities. The execution has been postponed to provide more time for the family to reach a common understanding with the other side.”

The case involves the 2017 murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, for which Nimisha Priya was convicted and sentenced to death in 2020. All her appeals in Yemeni courts have been exhausted. Under Yemeni law, the only remaining option to avoid execution is to seek forgiveness from the victim’s family through the payment of blood money (diyah). However, the family of the deceased has repeatedly refused any compensation and continues to demand capital punishment under Islamic law's Qisas provision.

Despite ongoing efforts by diplomats and religious leaders to mediate, the victim's brother-in-law Abdelfattah Mehdi remains firm on his stance, rejecting all compromise or reconciliation.

Influential Muslim cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliyar has also been working to mediate with Yemeni religious and tribal leaders. His mission reportedly helped delay the execution date and create an opening for further negotiations. However, no formal agreement has been reached as the victim’s family remains unyielding.