SC told Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s execution in Yemen stayed; new mediator involved in diplomatic talks
The Supreme Court was on Thursday told that Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, facing the death penalty in Yemen for murder, has been granted a stay of execution and there were no adverse developments.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 17: The Supreme Court on Thursday (October 16, 2025) was told by the union government that “nothing adverse was happening” to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death in Yemen for a murder and that a new mediator had entered the picture for bringing parties together.
International Action Council continues legal aid efforts
The International Action Council has been giving legal aid to Ms. Priya in its bid to save her life, approached the HC through a petition. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the matter on Tuesday. The hanging, scheduled on July 16, was stayed after diplomatic intervention by the Indian government and KM Sheik Abbas, Inspector-General of police (Crimes), National Investigating Agency.
Union govt assures SC: “Nothing adverse happening” in Priya’s case
When the Bench sought to know from Attorney-General R. Venkataramani, appearing for the Union government, about what was happening currently with regard to the execution, he said “nothing adverse” was going on and a new mediator had come in.
New mediator steps in; identity not revealed to court
AG R Venkataramani told Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta that a new mediator had come in.
During the hearing, when the bench inquired if he was KA Paul, who had earlier acted as a mediator along with Yemeni authorities, the Centre told the court that it was not so. But there is no explanation of who the new go-between was.
Kerala nurse’s case details
The apex court was hearing a plea seeking direction to the Centre for utilising diplomatic mechanisms to ensure that the 38-year-old nurse, who was given death penalty by a Yemeni court for murdering her Yemeni employer, is not executed. On August 14, the apex court had been told that Priya was not under “immediate threat”.
Ms. Priya, a native of Palakkad in Kerala, was sentenced to death by a Yemeni trial court in 2020 for the murder of a local man who had been her business partner. Her appeals were then rejected by the Yemeni courts of appeal.
Blood money option discussed under Sharia law for relief
The petitioner's counsel had told the apex court earlier that a compensation amount — known as blood money in Sharia law — for the victim's family could be an option and can become a possible source of relief. He had argued that the family of the victim could pardon Ms. Priya, if blood money was paid.
