Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas has written a letter to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, seeking urgent diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who faces execution in Yemen on July 16.
Nimisha Priya was convicted of murdering a Yemeni national in 2018, and her death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Judicial Council of Yemen in November 2023. While the Indian government has said it is closely monitoring the case, Brittas accused the Centre of shifting the responsibility onto Priya’s financially struggling family.
In his letter, Brittas wrote: “The distressing news of this impending execution has caused widespread anxiety and anguish… The Government must intervene immediately to prevent this tragedy.”
Brittas also highlighted that the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council is ready to pay the required diya (blood money) to secure her release but stressed that government facilitation is crucial to negotiate and complete the process.
He noted that although $40,000 has already been handed over as part of the diya, there has been no communication from the government on the total amount required or progress in negotiations with the victim’s family.
Brittas expressed concern over a contradictory stand by the government. He said earlier assurances from Jaishankar suggested proactive engagement, but a later response in the Rajya Sabha stated the matter is solely between the two families.
“This abrupt shifting of responsibility onto a distressed and financially fragile family… stands in stark contrast to the assurances previously provided,” Brittas wrote, urging Jaishankar to “correct this approach” and act before it is too late.
The case has sparked national and international appeals for diplomatic action, with civil society groups mobilising efforts to prevent Priya’s execution.