Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Faces Execution in Yemen—July 16 Deadline Sparks Diplomatic Push
July 8, 2025
Sanaa/Thiruvananthapuram – Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, originally from Kerala’s Palakkad district, is scheduled for execution in Yemen on July 16, 2025, after being convicted of murdering her business partner, Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi. The impending date has triggered intensified diplomatic efforts and negotiations under the “blood money” system, raising new concerns for her fate.
A Life in Yemen: From Nurse to Accused
Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse. In 2015, she opened “Al Aman Medical Clinic” in Sanaa, requiring a local partner to comply with Yemeni rules. She partnered with Talal, but according to her family, suffered extensive abuse—physical, financial, and emotional. Reports claim Talal confiscated her passport and manipulated clinic ownership, reportedly even forging a claim that he was her husband.
In July 2017, Priya allegedly drugged Talal with ketamine to retrieve her passport; his death was ruled an overdose. An accomplice is reported to have dismembered the body for disposal. Priya was arrested while attempting to flee Yemen.
Legal Journey: Courts, Appeals, and Verdicts
A Yemeni trial court convicted Priya of murder in 2018 and sentenced her to death. The Supreme Judicial Council upheld the verdict in November 2023, and President Rashad al-Alimi ratified the sentence on December 30, 2024. Execution protocols have been in the hands of prosecutors since January 2025.
Diplomacy and a Lifeline: Blood Money Negotiations
In Yemen’s legal tradition, execution for murder may be averted if the victim’s family forgives the offender and accepts diyat, or blood money. Negotiations are being led by Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a social worker with power of attorney from Priya’s mother. He confirmed that the execution order was formally issued and that July 16 remains the set date, though legal and diplomatic avenues remain open.
The negotiation team has offered US $1 million as blood money, backed by an Indian diaspora sponsor. Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, has been living in Sanaa since 2024 to push forward the negotiations.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that it is “closely following the matter,” maintaining regular contact with Yemeni authorities, and assisting Priya’s family. Sources from MEA restated that Indian officials are exerting efforts “since June 2018” to support her case .
Diplomacy is complicated by two hurdles:
Houthi-Controlled Sanaa: The city is controlled by Houthi forces, limiting Indian government contacts with Yemeni authorities.
Stalled Compensation Talks: Though funds were raised (US $40,000 circulated by mid-2024), progress stalled by September 2024. Discussions over funds for the victim’s family have reached an impasse.
Priya, now 36, is the daughter of a domestic worker in Kochi. Her husband and daughter returned to India in 2014. Her mother, Prema Kumari, arrived in Sanaa in 2024, living in Yemen’s capital to drive negotiations on Priya’s behalf. A group of NRI supporters also continues to contribute through fundraising efforts.
Human rights advocates and diplomatic observers worldwide have emphasized that Priya did not fully understand courtroom proceedings due to the trial being in Arabic without an interpreter. Her legal team has appealed for a retrial based on these violations.
Representatives from India, Saudi Arabia, and Iran have all expressed willingness to help her case, but as of July 8, no formal humanitarian intervention has been confirmed .
Countdown to July 16: The Road Ahead
As the July 16 deadline looms, only the acceptance of blood money by Talal’s family stands between Priya and execution. Negotiators are hopeful, but the outcome remains uncertain.
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