Yemen postpones execution of Kerala nurse

Yemeni authorities have postponed the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, bringing much relief to her family and others who now hope that the united efforts can avert her execution altogether.
The execution, originally scheduled for July 16, has been postponed, sources in New Delhi said on Tuesday. Priya, who hails from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, was found guilty of murdering a Yemeni citizen in July 2017.
The sources added that government of India has made concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for Priya’s family to reach a “mutually agreeable” solution with other party.
Despite the sensitivities involved, Indian officials have been in regular touch with local jail authorities and prosecutor’s office, leading to securing the postponement, sources said. Priya’s husband expressed relief and satisfaction over the postponement of her execution and hoped that the united efforts will continue to avert her execution altogether. Besides her family, the political and religious leadership of Kerala also expressed satisfaction over the development.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the postponement of the execution as both comforting and filled with hope.
Congress MLA Chandy Oommen, who had approached several influential figures including Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar for intervention, said the latter made sincere efforts on humanitarian grounds. In 2020, a Yemeni court handed Priya death sentence and the country’s Supreme Judicial Council dismissed her appeal in November 2023. The 38-year-old nurse is presently lodged in a jail in Sana’a, the Yemeni capital city.
In Delhi, sources said the government of India has been rendering all possible assistance in the case since beginning. Priya’s mother Premakumari travelled to Yemen last year as part of efforts to secure her release.
Indian side had even explored the option of securing Priya’s release through “diyat” or paying “blood money”. But that also ran into some problems, it is learnt.