The scheduled execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, has been postponed, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Priya, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the alleged murder of her Yemeni business partner, was due to be executed on July 16. However, Indian government sources confirmed on Tuesday that local Yemeni authorities have decided to delay the execution, though no official statement has yet been issued by Yemen.
🇮🇳 Indian Government’s Diplomatic Push
The development comes after intense diplomatic efforts by Indian officials, who do not have a direct presence in Yemen. The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia has been managing the situation, given that the capital Sana’a is under Houthi rebel control and India does not have formal relations with the group.
In recent days, India had pushed for more time to pursue a mutually agreeable solution with the victim’s family through the Islamic concept of “diyat” (blood money), which allows a convicted person to be pardoned if the victim’s family accepts financial compensation.
Despite diplomatic limitations and legal sensitivities, officials were in continuous contact with local jail authorities and prosecutors, a senior source said.
🩸 Blood Money Talks Hit Roadblocks
Efforts to secure Nimisha’s release through blood money stalled, as the victim’s family has reportedly refused to engage in dialogue. However, her mother Premakumari, who has been in Yemen for nearly a year, continues to negotiate with support from non-resident Indians based there.
The postponement of the execution offers a critical window for renewed negotiations.
🧑⚖️ Supreme Court & Government’s Admission
Just a day earlier, the Government of India had told the Supreme Court that it had done all it could under the circumstances. “There is a point till which the Government of India can go. We have reached that,” said the Attorney General during a hearing on a plea filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council.
🧵 Who is Nimisha Priya?
- Age: 38
- Origin: Kollengode, Palakkad district, Kerala
- Moved to Yemen: 2011, to work as a nurse
- Allegation: Killed her business partner Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017
- Claim: Mahdi abused, drugged, and withheld her passport after forging a marriage
- Conviction: Sentenced to death in 2020 by a Yemeni court
- Appeal: Rejected in 2023 by the Supreme Judicial Council of the Houthis
⏳ What Happens Next?
The postponement provides valuable time to try and secure a reprieve through blood money negotiations, though no clear timeline has been provided for the next steps.