The Supreme Court has been informed that the execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala facing the death penalty in Yemen, has been stayed. This update came as the court considered a plea urging the government to intervene through diplomatic channels to save the 38-year-old, who was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner in 2017.
The situation is complicated due to Nimisha Priya being held in a region controlled by the Houthi group, with whom India lacks formal diplomatic ties.
During a hearing on October 16, Attorney General R Venkataramani, representing the Centre, addressed the Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. When asked about the execution, the Attorney General stated, “There is a new mediator who has stepped into the picture,” adding, “The only good thing is, nothing adverse is happening.”
Counsel for the petitioner organization, ‘Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council,’ which is providing legal support to Priya, confirmed that the execution is currently stayed. The organization requested an adjournment of the case, according to a PTI report.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 2026, noting that parties can apply for an earlier listing if circumstances warrant.
Nimisha Priya’s execution was initially scheduled for July 16 but was postponed after the Indian government and an NGO assisting her family initiated informal contact channels. Previously, on August 14, the court was informed by Priya’s legal counsel that there was “no immediate threat” to her. Earlier, on July 18, the Centre had also assured the court that all possible efforts were being made for Priya’s safe return.
The ‘Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council’ also revealed that Priya’s mother had traveled to Yemen to negotiate a ‘blood money’ settlement with the victim’s family, a practice permissible under Sharia law, which could potentially lead to her pardon.
Nimisha Priya, originally from Palakkad in Kerala, was convicted in 2017, sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023.