Kerala nurse Nimisha's mother gets Delhi HC nod to negotiate blood money deal in Yemen for daughter's release
PTC Web Desk: A Kerala nurse, Nimisha Priya, facing death sentence in Yemen for murder will now be represented by her mother in negotiations for her release. The Delhi High Court has granted permission to Nimisha's mother, Prema Kumari, to travel to Yemen, aiming to broker a "blood money" agreement—a customary compensation under Yemen's Shariah law—to secure her daughter's freedom.
The Delhi High Court directed the Indian government to relax its 2017 travel ban, preventing Indian citizens from visiting Yemen without official consent. Despite India lacking diplomatic relations with Yemen and the closure of its embassy there, the court emphasised the urgency for Nimisha's mother to travel to facilitate negotiations, acknowledging that no international treaties apply in the current Yemeni context.
In compliance with the Delhi High Court's directive, Nimisha's mother is required to submit an affidavit assuming full personal risk and absolving the Indian government of any responsibility during her trip.
Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been imprisoned since 2018 after being convicted of administering sedatives to Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi in an attempt to retrieve her passport. Despite her family's persistent efforts for her release and the Yemeni Supreme Court's dismissal of her appeal, the potential for a "blood money" arrangement remains the sole hope for securing her freedom.
- With inputs from agencies
