The execution of Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, has been postponed, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The decision comes after sustained diplomatic efforts by the Government of India to secure a temporary reprieve.
According to sources familiar with the case, Indian authorities have been in regular contact with Yemeni officials, including local jail authorities and the public prosecutor, to buy time for Priya’s family to reach a negotiated resolution with the victim’s relatives, in line with Yemeni legal provisions.
“In the case of Ms. Nimisha Priya, it has been learnt that the local authorities in Yemen have postponed the execution scheduled for July 16, 2025,” sources told ANI.
“Despite the sensitivities involved, Indian officials have made concerted efforts, leading to securing this postponement,” they added.
Priya, a nurse who had been working in Yemen, was convicted of killing a Yemeni national in 2017. While she claims it was an act of self-defense under duress, the Yemeni court found her guilty, and the country’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld her death sentence in November 2023.
Earlier this week, Attorney General of India (AGI) submitted before the Supreme Court that the government was actively engaging with Yemeni authorities to suspend the execution and allow negotiations to proceed.
However, the AGI also acknowledged the diplomatic limitations in Yemen, calling the situation “very complex” and unlike other international cases.
“There’s nothing much that we can do… It’s not like any other part of the world,” the AGI told the court.
Justice Sandeep Mehta, hearing the matter in the Supreme Court, expressed concern and said it would be “very sad if she were to lose her life.” The court has scheduled the next hearing on July 18.
The postponement opens a critical window for a possible resolution, likely through blood money negotiations under Sharia law, which could allow Priya’s execution to be averted if the victim’s family agrees.
The case has drawn significant public attention and appeals from humanitarian groups, urging the Indian government to intervene further to save her life.
