Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s execution in Yemen postponed

In a much needed relief to Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, Yemen authorities have postponed her execution scheduled for July 16, following concerted efforts by the Indian government, sources said on Tuesday.

This will give Priya’s family more time to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the victim’s family.

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“Government of India, which has since the beginning of the case been rendering all possible assistance in the matter, has made concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party,” sources quoted by ANI said.

“Despite the sensitivities involved, Indian officials have been in regular touch with the local jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office, leading to securing this postponement,” they added further.

Priya was convicted of murdering a Yemeni national and sentenced to death with her execution scheduled for Wednesday.

However, her family moved the Supreme Court seeking Government of India’s intervention.

During the Supreme Court hearing, the Centre informed that while it can’t do much since India doesn’t have formal diplomatic ties with Yemen, it reached out to an influential Sheikh in the country to postpone the execution.

The postponement of the execution will give Priya’s family more time to explore the possibility of clemency through the payment of “diya”—a form of blood money—to the victim’s family.

Under the Sharia Law in Yemen, victim’s family can issue pardon to the convict in exchange of the blood money.

The development comes a day after Centre informed the Supreme Court that there is nothing much it can do since India did not have formal diplomatic ties with Yemen.

However, the Centre also stated that it was making efforts privately with an influential Sheikh in the country to put her execution in abeyance.