Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya to Be Executed in Yemen on July 16; Final Hope Rests on Forgiveness

By A Staff Reporter

Kerala-born nurse Nimisha Priya, imprisoned in Yemen since 2017 for the murder of a Yemeni national, is now facing imminent execution on July 16, according to human rights activist Samuel Jerome of the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council.

Jerome, who has been actively involved in the ongoing negotiations with Yemeni authorities and the victim’s family, confirmed that the official letter of execution has been issued, and Nimisha has been formally informed by jail authorities.

The only possible reprieve left is forgiveness from the victim’s family, that of Talal Abdo Mehdi, under Yemen’s Sharia law which permits the acceptance of ‘blood money’ (Diya) in exchange for clemency. “Negotiations are ongoing, and a $1 million compensation offer has been made, but the family has not yet agreed to forgive,” Jerome said.

Babu John, another member of the action council, confirmed the financial offer and noted that all legal avenues have been exhausted. Nimisha’s mother, Prema Kumari, who has been stationed in Yemen since 2024, continues to make appeals on her daughter’s behalf.

Background of the Case

Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse and eventually opened a medical clinic in 2015 with Talal Abdo Mehdi as her mandatory local sponsor. According to her family, tensions escalated after she accused him of financial misappropriation and seizing her passport. In an attempt to recover it, Nimisha allegedly injected Mehdi with sedatives, intending to incapacitate him temporarily. However, the act resulted in his death, reportedly due to an overdose, and she was arrested while attempting to flee the country.

Her death sentence was upheld by Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi on December 30, 2023, leaving only the possibility of private pardon from the victim's family under Islamic law.

With just days left before the execution, activists, diaspora groups, and human rights organizations continue to appeal for urgent intervention from the Indian government and international community to save Nimisha’s life. The Supreme Court of India has also sought a response from the Centre on the matter, as calls grow for stepped-up diplomatic engagement.