NEW DELHI: Congress leader K C Venugopal on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging his immediate intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, who is scheduled to be executed in Yemen on July 16.
In a letter, Venugopal appealed to the Prime Minister to take urgent diplomatic steps with Yemeni authorities to halt the execution. "While efforts have been made by the Action Council and her family to negotiate with the victim's family to accept ‘blood money’ (diyah), which could potentially spare her life, these negotiations have faced significant challenges, due to ongoing civil war and other internal disturbances," he wrote.
He added, "Given the complexity of the situation, I request you to intervene in this matter with utmost priority, imploring all possible diplomatic measures with the Yemeni authorities and ensure that the death sentence be cancelled."
Nimisha Priya, 37, was convicted in 2018 for the murder of a Yemeni national and has been on death row since the country’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld her sentence in November 2023. Yemen permits resolution of such cases through diyah, or blood money, but the ongoing civil conflict in the country has made negotiations difficult.
Her husband, Tomy Thomas, recently met Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and said both central and state governments, as well as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), were making efforts. “I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. The Central government, State government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response,” he told ANI.
The Congress appeal follows a similar call from Communist Party of India MP Sandosh Kumar, who wrote to external affairs minister S Jaishankar. Kumar said Nimisha’s case “has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal.”
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had earlier confirmed that the government is “aware of the sentencing” and is “extending all possible help” in the matter.
In a letter, Venugopal appealed to the Prime Minister to take urgent diplomatic steps with Yemeni authorities to halt the execution. "While efforts have been made by the Action Council and her family to negotiate with the victim's family to accept ‘blood money’ (diyah), which could potentially spare her life, these negotiations have faced significant challenges, due to ongoing civil war and other internal disturbances," he wrote.
He added, "Given the complexity of the situation, I request you to intervene in this matter with utmost priority, imploring all possible diplomatic measures with the Yemeni authorities and ensure that the death sentence be cancelled."
Nimisha Priya, 37, was convicted in 2018 for the murder of a Yemeni national and has been on death row since the country’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld her sentence in November 2023. Yemen permits resolution of such cases through diyah, or blood money, but the ongoing civil conflict in the country has made negotiations difficult.
Her husband, Tomy Thomas, recently met Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar and said both central and state governments, as well as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), were making efforts. “I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. The Central government, State government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response,” he told ANI.
The Congress appeal follows a similar call from Communist Party of India MP Sandosh Kumar, who wrote to external affairs minister S Jaishankar. Kumar said Nimisha’s case “has not only shaken the conscience of the public but also raised serious concerns about the lack of legal safeguards and the humanitarian dimensions of her ordeal.”
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had earlier confirmed that the government is “aware of the sentencing” and is “extending all possible help” in the matter.
You may also like
Ed Sheeran fans in meltdown as Westlife make surprise appearance at homecoming gig
ITR: This time income tax refund will be late, taxpayers should know the reason..
Sawan 2025: These 3 types of oil are offered on Shivling, you will be surprised to know the benefits
Two-day police conference in Jaipur to check human trafficking
Fixed Deposit: Senior citizens are happy, these banks have announced bumper interest on 5 year FD..
