‘We expect a positive response’: Husband of Kerala nurse on death row in Yemen

NEW DELHI: Tomy Thomas, husband of Nimisha Priya, the 37-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala who faces execution in Yemen on July 16 after being convicted of murder in June 2018, informed about the ongoing efforts to save her life.

Thomas recently met with Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar, who offered support to Nimisha’s mother through video conferencing. According to Thomas, the central government, the state government, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are making efforts to secure Nimisha’s release.

Thomas said, “I am in contact with Nimisha. It is possible to send text and voice messages to her. I met the Governor yesterday, who offered all support to Nimisha’s mother through video conferencing. The central government, state government and the MEA have been making efforts, and we expect a positive response. Our advocate is doing everything possible….”, Thomas added.

Earlier, Communist Party of India (CPI ) Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar wrote to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, seeking immediate diplomatic intervention to save Nimisha Priya, an Indian national facing execution by Yemeni authorities on July 16.

In a letter to Jaishankar, the CPI MP highlighted that Nimisha Priya’s case has “shaken the conscience of the public” about the lack of legal safeguards. “I am writing this letter with utmost urgency and deep concern regarding the impending execution of Ms. Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, who has been sentenced to death by a court in Yemen. Reports indicate that the execution may be carried out within days. 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”, Sandosh Kumar wrote in his letter to Jaishankar.

This comes amid reports that the 37-year-old nurse from Kerala is scheduled to be executed on July 16. The trial court convicted her of killing the Yemeni national, a decision that was upheld by the country’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.

Sandosh Kumar emphasised that Nimisha Priya “endured repeated abuse and coercion” at the hands of her business partner and said that now Yemen has placed her on death row, “a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations”.

“Nimisha Priya travelled to Yemen to work as a nurse, like many others who leave their homeland in search of a livelihood. Her years there were marked by grave suffering-accounts suggest she endured repeated abuse and coercion at the hands of her business partner. Denied her passport and subjected to constant fear and exploitation, she found herself in a desperate situation. What followed was a tragic turn of events that has now placed her on death row in a country with which we do not have formal diplomatic relations. In such circumstances, the role of the Government of India, particularly the Ministry of External Affairs, becomes critical and urgent”, the CPI leader said.

The Rajya Sabha MP Sandosh Kumar further added that the Communist Party of India has consistently stood by Nimisha Priya’s family in their appeal for justice and compassion. “Several initiatives and communications have been made over the years. We understand that the Yemeni legal system allows for resolution through the provision of diyat (blood money), which opens a window for negotiation, provided the Indian government steps in to facilitate it”, he said.

The CPI MP urged the external affairs minister to use every possible diplomatic and humanitarian channel to secure a stay on the execution and pursue all available means to prevent this irreversible punishment.”It is a question not only of saving a life but of reaffirming the nation’s responsibility towards its citizens abroad, particularly those vulnerable and caught in extreme circumstances. India must speak with urgency, compassion, and resolve”, Kumar said.

Previously, MEA confirmed its awareness of the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance. In response to media queries regarding the case of Nimisha Priya, MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter”. (ANI)