Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya's Execution Postponed By Yemen Authorities: Sources

Sanaa: In the latest development in the Nimisha Priya death sentence case, Yemen authorities on Tuesday postponed the execution of the nurse from India's southern state of Kerala, reported media reports citing sources. Priya was scheduled to be executed in a murder case on July 16.

As per ANI, Indian officials have been in regular touch with the local jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office, leading to securing the postponement of Priya's execution.

On Monday, the Centre told the Supreme Court that there was nothing much the government could do in the case. Notably, the top court heard a plea seeking directions to the Indian government to intervene and save Priya through diplomatic negotiations.

The plea was heard by Justices Vikram Seth and Sandeep Mehta. The plea was filed by an organisation called "Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council". The petitioner had urged that the Centre can assist in the 'blood money' negotiations through diplomatic channels.

"There's nothing much govt can do...looking at sensitivity of Yemen...it's not diplomatically recognised...blood money is a private negotiation...There's a point till which the government of India can go," Attorney General for India (AGI) R Venkataramani had told the apex court as reported by Live Law. Venkataramani had also highlighted that India has "complex" diplomatic relations with Yemen and not like other countries.

The 37-year-old was convicted by a trial court in Yemen of killing the Yemeni national, a decision that the country's Supreme Judicial Council upheld in November 2023.

Priya is a trained nurse and has worked in private hospitals in Yemen for a few years. er husband and minor daughter returned to India in 2014 because of financial reasons.

Later in 2015, Nimisha, in partnership with a Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi to set up her clinic in Sana. She sought Mahdi's support because, under Yemen's law, only nationals are allowed to set up clinics and business firms. The partnership deteriorated quickly. Nimisha was reportedly pressured into signing a deal granting 67 per cent ownership to Talal Abdo Mahdi and 33 per cent to her former employer. The Yemeni national also started physically and sexually assaulting her. He even made fake marriage photos with Priya.

Mahdi was jailed multiple times following Nimisha’s complaints. In July 2017, Nimisha visited Talal in jail once more to retrieve her passport. A prison official allegedly suggested she sedate him to get it back. She injected him with sedatives, but he died of an overdose.