Team News Riveting
Kochi, April 15
A final attempt is being made to save Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen facing the death penalty for the murder of a Yemeni national.
Nimisha has been in jail since 2020 for allegedly murdering Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in July 2017. In her appeal, Nimisha has said Talal has been abusing and torturing her. She injected him with sedatives to get her passport that was in his possession as it was the only option left to return to her family in Kerala.
The courts in Yemen dismissed her appeals against the death row and the only way for Nimisha to escape the noose was to get pardon from the family of the deceased by paying blood money to the family in accordance with the law of land. Under the Shariat law, the legal heir of the deceased can be compensated (blood money) and in turn, the death sentence can be commuted.
Nimisha’s mother and daughter, will visit Yemen and try to meet with Talal’s family and seek a pardon.
The “Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council is sceptical that Nimisha will not get proper legal assistance in Yemen following to the internal strife and war-like situation in Yemen. The council has approached former Supreme Court Judge Justice Kurian Joseph to lead the efforts to save Nimisha from execution by holding talks with the family of the deceased Yemeni citizen Talal.
Justice Kurian Joseph has reportedly given his consent to coordinate efforts to secure a pardon for Kerala native Nimisha Priya. However, managing the blood money will be a daunting task.
The Union government had already made it clear that it would assist legal actions and consular access but would not get into negotiations for blood money.
