Kerala CM Urges PM Modi To Save Nurse Nimisha Priya From Death Penalty In Yemen
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan urged PM Modi to intervene to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen for murdering Talal Abdo Mehdi.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene to save the life of Nimisha Priya, facing the death penalty in Yemen.
Indian nurse Nimisha Priya has been sentenced to death by a Yemeni court after being convicted of murdering a citizen of the country.
'I appeal to the Prime Minister to take up the matter and intervene with the authorities concerned to save the life of Nimisha Priya," CM Vijayan wrote to PM Modi.
The gravity of charges against Nimisha Priya has made it difficult for the efforts to seek relief for her to succeed, news agency PTI said, citing sources.
Priya's family, along with several political parties and organisations, are urging the Indian government to intervene diplomatically to save her from execution in Yemen, scheduled for July 16.
According to Yemeni court documents, Nimisha Priya in July 2017 allegedly drugged and murdered her local business partner, identified as Talal Abdo Mehdi, and, with the help of another nurse, chopped his body and disposed of the dismembered parts in an underground tank.
Later, after the discovery of Mehdi's murder, Nimisha was arrested and allegedly confessed to the killing in one of her statements, the sources said, adding that the trial court in Sanaa sentenced her to death.
She challenged this verdict in the highest court in Yemen, but her appeal was rejected and the death sentence upheld. Then Nimisha appealed for mercy to the President of Yemen, but he refused to grant her a pardon, the sources noted.
'The family of the deceased, Talal Abdo Mehdi, is not even willing to accept blood money. All legal efforts have been made for Nimisha Priya, but the allegations against her were so grave that all efforts have failed," PTI said, citing sources.
Various political parties and organisations, particularly from Kerala, are pressing the Indian government to intervene and save Nimisha Priya from the death penalty.
The Ministry of External Affairs has said it is closely monitoring the developments in the case and is extending all possible help.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will hear on Monday a plea seeking a direction to the Centre to use diplomatic channels to save the Indian nurse.
The sources said that Nimisha Priya was working in Yemen as a nurse since 2008, adding that she travelled to the country with her husband Tommy Thomas after their marriage in 2011, PTI reported.
Due to the civil war in Yemen in 2014, her husband returned to Kerala with their daughter, while Nimisha stayed in Yemen.
view comments
First Published:
July 13, 2025, 22:30 IST
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
23 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Tihar jail prisoner dies by suicide inside jail
A prisoner in Tihar Jail's hospital died by suicide by hanging himself from a window, informed the Tihar Jail officials in the early hours of Monday. Karmakar was under trial, while Saquib was convicted for his involvement in the 2002 and 2003 Mumbai blasts.(PTI File) The prisoner was an under-trial inmate, namely Ramesh Karmakar, who was lodged in Jail Number 4 but was undergoing treatment at the jail hospital in Jail Number 3 since May 28. Karmakar's body was found hanging from a window late on the night of Sunday, and the jail authorities were informed on the early morning of Monday. In another such case, an accused named Saquib Nachan in connection with the terror group Islamic State (ISIS), died in Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, informed sources said on Saturday. He has been in judicial custody in Tihar Jail since 2023 and was admitted to the hospital a few days ago, they said. Saquib was convicted for his involvement in the bomb blasts in Mumbai in 2002 and 2003. In line with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Saquib Nachan, a habitual offender in many previous terror cases, was also a self-styled Amir-e-Hind for ISIS in India. Earlier in June 2024, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) had chargesheeted Nachan along with 16 hardcore agents of a proscribed global terrorist network, in a conspiracy involving the recruitment and radicalisation of youth and the fabrication of improvised explosive devices in the Delhi-Padgha ISIS terror module case. The accused were chargesheeted under various sections of IPC, UA(P) Act, Arms Act and Explosive Substances ACt, were found to have been engaged in a massive ISISI conspirancy involving recruitment, training and propagation of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) ideology among gullible youth, along with fabrication of explosives and IEDs are fund-raising for the banned outfit. Its investigation had subsequently led to the seizure of several incriminating documents and data relating to the manufacturing of explosives and the fabrication of IEDs, along with propaganda magazines like 'Voice of Hindi', 'Rumiyah', 'Khhiafat', 'Dabiq', published by IS.
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
Why is team Aryan facing a backlash over the name choice at PMWC 2025?
(Image via PUBGM_NewsNow's "X" Account) Team Aryan, India's champion PUBG Mobile squad, is facing significant criticism weeks before representing the nation at PUBG Mobile World Cup 2025 (PMWC). The entire backlash stems from the in-game name of players, raising concerns over the historical connotations. While the skills of the team remain undisputed, the rising debate now highlights a fine line between global sensitivities and gaming culture. Team Aryan name choice cause huge esports controversy before PMWC 2025 Though unintentional, the team Aryan name has evoked historical associations. The names 'Aryan' and a player's chosen alias name, 'Hitler,' are the core issues here that sparked disapproval. Both these names carry huge historical weight and are drawing criticism against the team. The esports players are being called out for carrying an association with Nazi ideology, despite not having one. Despite the team claiming they have no ill intent, the organizers of PMWC 2025 are not enforcing strict naming policies in order to avoid controversy. The esports tournaments, especially global events like PMWC, give priority to inclusivity. Any names linked to hate speech or oppression are often banned for maintaining professionalism. While the performance of players remains commendable, alias here have overshadowed achievements, forcing them to rethink branding within competitive gaming. Team Aryan's name choices' historical weight Adolf Hitler, the Nazi party leader, is globally reviled for the role he played in the Holocaust and the initiation of devastating conflict. To use the name, even as the gaming handle is seen as deeply offensive and trivializing immense suffering. On the other hand, the term Aryan, while having an older linguistic origin, got radically misappropriated by Nazis for promoting the fake ideology of racial superiority. It directly led to genocide and persecution. The contemporary use of it quite often signals alignment with the ideologies of white supremacists. Indian Esports player's struggles continue Indian esports athletes have long battled significant obstacles beyond the game. Amidst all concerns (lack of recognition, bureaucratic hurdles and more), securing a visa for the international tournament has been the most notorious and recurring nightmare. Teams like, GodLike Esports FS Esports Indian Tigers TeamIND Team SOUL Have all faced either delays or devastating rejections, forcing them to make last-minute withdrawals. It even severely hampered their online play. Despite it all, players have persevered and proved their mettle on the international stages. Despite overcoming all logistical barriers, now, Team Aryan is facing scrutiny over their name choice. It just underscores how esports players must ensure to navigate not just the in-game strategies but even cultural sensitivities. The current backlash highlights the requirement of better awareness when one is representing a global audience. Broader impact of the entire controversy The Team Aryan controversy is not just about a team, but it reflects upon the increased influence and responsibilities of esports. With competitive gaming gaining mainstream traction, organizations and players must consider the implications of branding. What looks like a harmless alias in a region could carry heavy baggage someplace else. The tournament organizers are now likely to tighten up naming policies further. They will ensure the esports field remains welcoming for all. As for Team Aryan, it can mean rebranding before the PMWC 2025. The entire incident serves as a reminder that within the connected world, even the gamers' name could spark a global debate. So, why not be aware from the start? Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Scroll.in
31 minutes ago
- Scroll.in
Execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya postponed by Yemen
The Yemeni authorities on Tuesday postponed the execution of Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya. The execution was earlier scheduled for July 16. Priya, from Kerala's Palakkad, was imprisoned in Yemen for the alleged murder of Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mehdi in July 2017. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the grand mufti of India, shared a photo of the Yemeni public prosecutor's letter confirming that the execution had been postponed. No fresh date of execution has been set, according to the letter. This came a day after the Union government told the Indian Supreme Court that it cannot do much more to prevent the execution of Priya. The court was hearing a plea by the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, a citizen-led initiative advocating for her release, which sought directions for the Union government to take diplomatic efforts to stop the execution. The petitioners had argued that there is a provision in the Islamic Sharia law for release if the victim's family accepts 'blood money', or the amount paid in compensation to the family of a person who has been killed. The Indian government had made efforts to seek more time for Priya's family to reach a mutually-agreeable solution with the other side, The Indian Express quoted unidentified officials as saying on Tuesday. Attorney General R Venkataramani had told the court on Monday: 'Looking at the sensitivity of not diplomatically money is a private a point till which the government of India can go. We have reached that.' Yemen has been locked in a civil war since 2014. New Delhi does not recognise the Houthi regime that controls the part of Yemen where Priya is jailed. 'Yemen is not like any other part of the world,' he had told the court. 'We didn't want to complicate the situation by going public, we are trying at a private level...' The petitioner had told the court that they were willing to pay higher blood money to halt the execution, Bar and Bench reported. The court will hear the matter next on Friday. The case In 2020, Priya was sentenced to death by a trial court in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Her appeal was rejected by the Yemeni Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. However, it kept open the option of paying 'blood money'. On December 30, news reports claimed that Rashad al-Alimi, who is the chairperson of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, had approved the death sentence handed to Priya. India's Ministry of External Affairs had said on December 31 that it was aware of the situation and was extending help to Priya and her family in the matter. Priya's mother has been negotiating with Mehdi's family to secure a waiver of the death sentence. Priya went to Yemen in 2008 to help her parents, who were daily wage labourers. She worked at hospitals in Yemen before starting her clinic in 2015. Differences came up between Priya and Mehdi, her business partner, after she questioned him about the alleged embezzlement of funds, her family has claimed. Priya's mother alleged in a plea that Mehdi tortured her daughter under the influence of drugs for years and held her at gunpoint several times. The plea also alleged that Mehdi confiscated Priya's passport so that she could not leave the country.
