New Delhi – With the scheduled execution of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya (38) in Yemen just days away on July 16, efforts to secure her release have gained renewed urgency. A plea urging the Central Government to intensify diplomatic intervention will be heard by the Supreme Court today.
The petition will be considered by a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, and the Centre is expected to inform the court about the steps taken so far to secure Nimisha’s release.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting immediate diplomatic action to save Nimisha Priya. Reports indicate that multi-level efforts are underway by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), including seeking help from Arab nations that have strong ties with Yemen.
Officials say the MEA is in constant communication with Nimisha’s mother, who is currently in Yemen, and with the Indian community residing there.
Diplomatic intervention in Yemen remains challenging due to the current situation – Sana’a, the capital city, is under the control of Houthi rebels. India had earlier tried to engage through Saudi Arabia and later Iran, but those attempts saw limited success. Now, fresh efforts are being made through other Arab nations.
Meanwhile, the Action Council advocating for Nimisha’s release has approached the Yemeni courts seeking a stay on her execution. The stance taken by the Director General of Prosecution in Yemen is expected to play a crucial role in determining Nimisha Priya’s fate.
