MEA: In touch with friendly nations to save Kerala nurse

India is in touch with some friendly countries and is closely following the case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen after being convicted of the murder of a Yemeni national.

Her execution, earlier scheduled for July 16, has been postponed and efforts are on to save her from the death row.

“This is a sensitive matter and the Centre has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged regular consular visits and have been in constant touch with the local authorities and the family members to resolve the issue,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters during a weekly briefing.

Without revealing the name of the “friendly countries” that India was in touch with regarding the matter, Jaiswal said, “Concerted efforts have been made in recent days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The Yemeni authorities have postponed her execution that was scheduled for July 16. We will continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments,” he said.

Sources said the friendly countries Jaiswal referred to were Saudi Arabia and Iran.

India