Kerala nurse death row in Yemen: Congress seeks Modi's intervention to save Nimisha Priya

New Delhi: With just days remaining before Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is scheduled to be executed in Yemen, political leaders across party lines have urged the Centre to intervene diplomatically to save her life.

Congress leader K C Venugopal on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting immediate diplomatic efforts to halt the execution, scheduled for July 16.

“Given the complexity of the situation, I request you to intervene as a priority, employing all possible diplomatic efforts,” Venugopal stated.

He noted that ongoing negotiations for ‘blood money’—or diyah—have faced setbacks due to the civil unrest in Yemen.

Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, was convicted in 2018 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Her death sentence was upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023 and ratified earlier this year by President Rashad al-Alimi.

Under Yemeni Sharia law, death sentences in such cases can be commuted if the victim’s family accepts diyah (blood money). In a final effort to save her, Priya’s family has offered $1 million (approx. ₹8.6 crore) to the victim’s relatives. However, no decision has been reached. 

Babu John, activist with the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, told NDTV that family representative Samuel Jerome is in Sana’a negotiating directly with the victim’s family.

“We’ve made the offer. Now the decision rests with the victim’s family. If they agree, we’re ready to mobilise and pay the amount immediately,” he said. 

Priya’s husband, Tomy Thomas, met with Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who offered support to the family. Thomas confirmed that both the central and state governments, along with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), are making every effort.

“We are in touch with Nimisha. The authorities are doing everything possible, and we are hopeful of a positive outcome,” he told ANI. 

Earlier this week, CPI Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar also appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, calling Priya’s situation a humanitarian crisis.

“Nimisha’s ordeal has raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and humanitarian support. She faced repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. India must respond with compassion and resolve,” he wrote.

Kumar emphasized that while Yemen allows resolution through diyah, India’s lack of formal diplomatic relations with Yemen complicates the process. He urged the government to exhaust every diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay of execution. 

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the government is aware of the case and is “extending all possible help.”

As the July 16 deadline draws near, the only remaining legal option is a pardon from the victim’s family. Priya’s supporters remain hopeful that the offer of diyah will be accepted in time to save her life.