Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India on July 17 reiterated its commitment to offer full assistance in the case of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national, asserting that it is also in touch with some friendly Governments to render all possible support. “This is a very sensitive matter and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal assistance and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits for the family, and we are in touch with both local authorities and the family members to resolve this issue,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
“This included concerted efforts in the last few days to seek more time for her family to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The local authorities in Yemen have postponed carrying out her sentence that was scheduled for July 16. We will continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance in the case. We are also in touch with some friendly Governments in this regard,” he added.
In a significant development in the case, the scheduled execution of the Indian nurse has been temporarily halted. Nimisha Priya was to be executed on July 16, but following the lengthy period of multipronged negotiations, her execution has been kept in abeyance.
Analysts believe that it is the family of the deceased that can pardon Priya. However, with a difference of opinion surfacing in the family, the religious people involved in the negotiations, besides officials, are trying their best to resolve the issue. It has been learnt that the next part of the negotiation will centre around the ‘blood money’ that will be given. For the unversed, ‘blood money’ is monetary compensation to the family of the person killed in exchange for forgiveness. It is an accepted practice under Sharia law.
