The Supreme Court was told on Friday that the hanging of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who died after being convicted of murder in Yemen and sentenced to death, has been stayed. The news comes as the Centre ramps up diplomatic efforts to have her released and safely repatriated to India.
Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Union government, informed a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that “efforts are on” to rescue Priya, 38, who is from Kerala’s Palakkad district. “The government desires that she returns safely,” the senior law officer said. The bench observed, “They (the government) are doing good care of whatever is possible.”
The lawyer of the petitioner told the court that the execution, which was set for July 16, has been rescheduled. He added that the family is first required to obtain a pardon from the relatives of the victim and next make provisions for “blood money,” as provided under Yemeni law, in order to set Priya free.
The bench on Friday scheduled the matter for hearing on August 14, and also has requested the petitioner to keep negotiating with the government.
Nimisha Priya is a nurse from Kerala. She was employed in Yemen and later found guilty in 2017 for murdering her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Nimisha was sentenced to death in 2020.
Nimisha Priya’s husband spoke with NewsX
Nimisha Priya’s husband, Tomy Thomas, broke his silence and made a heartfelt appeal, in an interview with NewsX. “I’ll do anything to bring her back,” Tomy said in an emotional way. The family is now trying to raise the blood money required under Yemeni law hoping to bring back Nimisha Priya to home.
The plea in the Supreme Court urges a direction to the Indian government to utilize all diplomatic means to rescue Priya from death. The Centre has assured the top court that it was actively pursuing interactions with Yemeni authorities to see what legal and diplomatic recourse can be made.
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
