Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: It was a race against time, and after a lengthy period of multipronged negotiations, the execution of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, which was to happen on July 16, has been kept in abeyance. Numerous efforts from several quarters, which included full support of the Indian government, besides agencies based in Saudi Arabia and religious intervention from the Grand Mufti, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, who reportedly reached out to a friend in Yemen’s Shoora Council to help mediate, all led to the decision.
According to the fresh order that came out soon after negotiations ended on July 15, the execution of Priya, which was fixed for Wednesday, has been kept in abeyance until further orders. The order has been signed by the Prison Execution officer and the local judge of the court in Yemen. The Indian diplomatic officials, who were part of the negotiation that took place, said talks will continue, and the officials said the Indian government has stretched maximum for this relief.
Meanwhile, it has been reliably learned that the next part of the negotiation will centre around the blood money that will be given. Expressing happiness was Priya’s husband, Tomy Thomas, who said, “We are all happy and we also know there are a lot more things to happen. Local person Sabu M. Jerome, who coordinated all the conciliation meetings, said he wishes to thank the Governments of Yemen, the Indian government and the top people who got involved from Saudi Arabia.”
“All other news which is being heard in the media is not true. The role played by the Indian government is huge,” said Jerome. Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen, facing the death penalty for the alleged murder of her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017.
