49 Indians on death row across eight countries, Nimisha Priya’s execution temporarily halted

A total of 49 Indian nationals are currently facing the death penalty in eight different countries, according to recent reports, with the largest number held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

This comes amid renewed focus on the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse sentenced to death in Yemen, whose execution has been temporarily postponed.

The UAE tops the list with 25 Indians on death row, followed by Saudi Arabia with 11.

Other countries where Indian nationals are facing capital punishment include:

-Malaysia: 6

-Kuwait: 3

-Indonesia: 1

-Qatar: 1

-United States: 1

-Yemen: 1

In Yemen, Nimisha Priya’s case has gained widespread attention.

Convicted of murdering a Yemeni national, Priya was scheduled to be executed this week. However, following extensive negotiations involving officials and religious mediators, her execution has been deferred for the time being.

“It is the family of the deceased that can pardon Priya,” said officials familiar with the matter. The family’s internal disagreement has slowed the process, but efforts are underway to resolve the issue.

The negotiations will now focus on reaching an agreement on the 'blood money' - a form of financial compensation offered to the victim’s family in return for clemency. This practice is recognised under Sharia law.

Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse and later opened a clinic. In 2017, during a dispute with her business partner Talal Abdo Mehdi, she allegedly administered sedatives to recover her seized passport. The sedatives led to Mehdi’s death.

She was arrested while attempting to leave the country and was convicted of murder in 2018. Her death sentence was formally issued in 2020 and later upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023, although the court left room for a possible pardon through blood money.