No immediate threat to Nimisha Priya in Yemen, Indian court told

Dubai: There is no immediate threat to Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Palakkad, Kerala, who is currently on death row in Yemen, the Supreme Court of India was told. According to India media reports, the update was provided during a hearing on a plea filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, which is providing legal support and seeking diplomatic intervention from the Indian government.

Priya was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in July 2017. She was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. The Kerala nurse remains incarcerated in a prison in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. Her execution has been postponed by a Yemeni court as negotiations continue.

The counsel of Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council told the Supreme Court that talks were ongoing and requested a short adjournment. “As of now, there is no immediate threat. Kindly adjourn it by four weeks. Hopefully, everything will be over by that time,” the counsel said, Malayala Manorama reported.

The petition before the court has urged the Indian government to use diplomatic channels to help secure Priya’s release. On July 18, the Indian government told the court it was making every possible effort and was in touch with Yemeni authorities and “friendly nations” to reach a mutually acceptable solution.

The petitioner organisation also requested that the government send an official delegation to Yemen to negotiate directly with the victim’s family. The Court responded that a representation to the government could be made in that regard.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court directed the government to allow Priya’s mother to travel to Yemen to negotiate with the victim’s family. Under Sharia law, the family of the deceased can choose to pardon the convicted in exchange for blood money.

The execution, initially scheduled for July 16, has been stayed while negotiations continue.