capital punishment in Yemen; centre seeks all options to get a pardon for nurse
The Centre is exploring all options including getting a pardon for an Indian nurse facing capital punishment in Yemen for allegedly killing a Yemeni businessman in 2017, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. In his letter to Rajya Sabha member John Brittas who sought the Union government’s intervention to release Keralite nurse Nimishapriya lodged in a Yemeni jail, Jaishankar said “the possibility that tribal customs and traditions may offer relief is also being explored in cooperation with community organisations”.
Earlier, Brittas had sent a letter to Jaishankar seeking his intervention in the matter. In his letter, the Kerala MP had requested the minister to “spearhead the actions” to facilitate a “constructive discussion” between “Save Nimishapriya International Action Council” and the family of the deceased so as to make them amenable to render pardon to Nimishapriya after accepting blood money.
He said the action council is learnt to be ready to pay the blood money, by making necessary interactions with the Government of Yemen and other influential persons in that region. Nimishapriya went to Yemen in 2012 for employment and was arrested and prosecuted there in August 2017 for allegedly killing Talal Al Odaini, a Yemeni businessman. Subsequently, the trial court in Yemen pronounced the death sentence on her in August 2020.
