Indian nurse Nimisha Priya . ARCHIVE

The scheduled execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, set for Wednesday (July 16), has been postponed, according to official sources from the Indian government on Tuesday (July 15). Nimisha Priya, 37, has been on death row in Yemen since 2018 for the 2017 murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Her sentence was upheld in 2020, and her final appeal was dismissed in 2023. Under Sharia law, however, her life could still be spared if the victim's family accepts blood money or monetary compensation. "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,” an official involved in the matter told media. The source added that the Indian government is offering “all possible assistance” and is working toward a “mutually agreeable solution.” Nimisha, a nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 and later opened a clinic with Mahdi. She alleges Mahdi forged marriage documents, withheld her passport, and abused her. In 2017, she injected him with a sedative in an attempt to recover her passport, which inadvertently caused his death. She then attempted to dispose of the body with a local accomplice. Talks between Indian authorities and the victim’s family are ongoing, although no formal agreement has been reached. Human rights groups in India have launched campaigns urging intervention and clemency. CAM/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page