Indian nurse Nimisha Priya from Kerala who was found guilty of killing a Yemeni national is to be executed on July 16. Her death sentence was ratified by the President of Yemen last year, which left her case in its critical stage.
As per sources from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Indian government has been actively involved in the case. Officials have been in constant touch with Yemeni officials and Priya's family, and have provided all possible diplomatic and legal help.
Priya, who came to Yemen in 2008 to sustain her family financially, started working in different hospitals before establishing her own clinic. According to Yemeni law, she needed to have a local citizen as her business partner, so she joined hands with Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2014.
The relationship turned sour soon thereafter, and Priya lodged a complaint against Mahdi in 2016, which led to his temporary arrest. Following his release, he is accused of still harassing her. As per her family members, Priya had tried to retrieve the seized passport by injecting Mahdi with sedatives, but he reportedly died because of an overdose. She was arrested while attempting to flee the country and convicted of murder in 2018.
Her sentence was confirmed by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. The death penalty may be applied in Yemen for a range of offences such as murder, drug trafficking, adultery, homosexuality, apostasy, and actions deemed threats to national unity or the military.
A possible avenue to clemency under Yemeni law is the payment of "blood money" — a payment to the victim's family — but the ultimate sum is up to the grieving family alone.
Subhash Chandran, a collective member and legal advisor who is campaigning for Priya's release, disclosed that her mother, a domestic worker in Kochi, even sold their property to finance the legal fight. Priya's advocates consist of politicians, businessmen, rights activists, and members of the Indian diaspora.
Moves to negotiate with Mahdi's relatives were derailed in September 2024. Negotiations broke down when Abdullah Ameer, a Yemeni lawyer hired by the Indian Embassy, requested a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000 (about ₹16.6 lakh), as per Manorama Online. Although the MEA had paid $19,871 to Ameer last July, he wanted a sum of $40,000 in all before resuming talks, paid in two instalments.
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council was able to raise the initial instalment via crowdfunding. But the movement later ran into transparency issues, with donors questioning the use of money.
The Indian government again stated in January that it is tracking the case intensely and offering all sorts of help. But with the execution date drawing near, Priya's mother made a last emotional appeal.
"I am really thankful to the Indian and Kerala governments, as well as the committee constituted to rescue her, for all that has been done till now. But this is my last appeal -- please come to her rescue. Time is running out," she said.
