Nimisha Priya’s Execution in Yemen Paused: 10 Key Points on the Kerala Nurse’s Case

The execution of Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala, India, scheduled for July 16, 2025, in Yemen, has been postponed, offering a glimmer of hope in a complex and emotionally charged case. Convicted for the 2017 murder of her Yemeni business partner, Priya’s fate hinges on negotiations for a blood money settlement under Yemen’s Sharia law. Below are 10 key points to understand her case, the recent developments, and the ongoing efforts to save her life.

1. Background of Nimisha Priya

Nimisha Priya, from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse in Sanaa. Unable to secure nursing jobs in Kerala due to incomplete school qualifications, she sought better opportunities abroad to support her family, who worked as domestic helpers. She later married Tomy Thomas and had a daughter but continued working in Yemen to provide financial stability.

2. The Crime and Conviction

In 2014, Priya partnered with Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi to open a clinic, as Yemeni law required a local sponsor. Their relationship soured over business disputes, with Priya alleging Mahdi abused her, forged documents, stole funds, and withheld her passport. In July 2017, she sedated Mahdi to retrieve her passport, but an overdose led to his death. With a colleague’s help, she dismembered and disposed of his body in a water tank. Priya was arrested in August 2017, convicted of murder in 2018, and sentenced to death in 2020.

3. Legal Proceedings and Appeals

Priya’s trial, conducted in Arabic without an interpreter or adequate legal counsel, was criticized by her supporters, including Amnesty International. Her family’s appeal to Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council was rejected in November 2023. In December 2024, Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi approved her execution, setting the initial date for July 16, 2025. The lack of proper legal representation and language barriers have fueled calls for a retrial.

4. Postponement of Execution

On July 15, 2025, Yemeni authorities postponed Priya’s execution, originally scheduled for the following day. The deferment came after intense diplomatic efforts by the Indian government and interventions by religious leaders, providing more time for negotiations with Mahdi’s family. No new execution date has been announced, keeping hope alive for a resolution.

5. Blood Money Negotiations

Under Yemen’s Sharia law, Priya’s life can be spared if Mahdi’s family accepts “diyah” (blood money) and grants a pardon. The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, formed in 2020, has raised $1 million for this purpose. However, Mahdi’s brother, Abdelfattah Mahdi, has publicly rejected reconciliation, insisting on “Qisas” (retributive justice), complicating efforts to secure a settlement.

6. Indian Government’s Role

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has been actively involved, liaising with Yemeni jail authorities and the prosecutor’s office despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties with the Houthi-controlled Sanaa government. On July 14, 2025, Attorney General R Venkataramani told the Supreme Court that India had exhausted most diplomatic channels, describing the situation as “complex.” The government continues to support Priya’s family in seeking a mutually agreeable solution.

7. Role of Religious Leaders

Prominent Sunni cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, known as the Grand Mufti of India, played a pivotal role in securing the postponement. He engaged Yemeni scholars, including Sufi scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz, to negotiate with Mahdi’s family. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan praised these efforts, noting they embody “compassion and brotherhood” and have provided critical time for further talks.

8. Challenges in Yemen’s Context

Yemen’s ongoing civil war, with Sanaa under Houthi control since 2014, poses significant challenges. India lacks formal diplomatic relations with the Houthi administration, complicating negotiations. The 2017 Indian travel ban to Yemen required special permission for Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, to visit Sanaa in April 2024 to meet her daughter and negotiate with Mahdi’s family, assisted by Yemen-based social worker Samuel Jerome.

9. Efforts by Family and Supporters

Prema Kumari, a domestic worker, sold her house to fund efforts to save her daughter. She has been in Yemen since April 2024, meeting Priya on April 24 after 11 years. The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, comprising activists, lawyers, and elected representatives, has crowdfunded funds and coordinated with Indian and Yemeni authorities. Despite raising $40,000 by June 2024, negotiations stalled due to disputes over legal fees and the victim’s family’s refusal to accept blood money.

10. Current Status and Next Steps

The postponement offers a temporary reprieve, but Priya’s fate remains uncertain. Negotiations continue in Dhamar, Mahdi’s hometown, led by Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz. The Indian government and Priya’s supporters are focused on securing a pardon through diyah, but the victim’s family’s insistence on Qisas remains a hurdle. The Supreme Court adjourned the case to July 18, 2025, to monitor negotiation progress, with hopes of a breakthrough to bring Priya home.

Conclusion

Nimisha Priya’s case highlights the complexities of international legal disputes in conflict zones and the power of collective action. The postponement of her execution reflects the tireless efforts of her family, Indian authorities, and religious leaders. However, with Mahdi’s family rejecting blood money, the path to clemency remains fraught. As negotiations continue, Priya’s story underscores the human cost of desperation and the hope for compassion under Yemen’s Sharia law.

Sources: BBC, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, Times of India, India Today, LiveMint, NDTV, Firstpost, Wikipedia.