Execution of Kerala nurse in Yemen stayed, ‘nothing adverse happening’: Centre tells SC

The execution of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has been stayed, PTI quoted the Union government as having told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Priya, from Kerala’s Palakkad, was imprisoned in Yemen for the alleged murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi in July 2017.

The court was hearing a plea by the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, a citizen-led campaign advocating for her release, which sought directions for the Union government to take diplomatic efforts to stop the execution.

Attorney General R Venkataramani told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a new mediator had stepped in, reported PTI.

“The only good thing is nothing adverse is happening,” said the government.

The bench listed the matter for January 2026. “It will be open for the parties to apply for early listing in case the situation so demands,” it added.

Priya’s execution was earlier scheduled for July 16.

On July 15, the Yemeni authorities postponed the execution and did not announce a fresh date. This came a day after the Union government told the Indian Supreme Court that it cannot do much more to prevent the execution of Priya.

The Save Nimisha Priya Action Council had argued that there is a provision in the Islamic Sharia law for release if the victim’s family accepts “blood money”, or the amount paid in compensation to...

Read more