Death Row Drama: Can This Kerala Nurse Be Saved Before July 16?
Kerala-born nurse Nimisha Priya, currently imprisoned in Yemen, faces execution on July 16, 2025, after being convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. The 38-year-old had moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family and worked in the healthcare sector before entering into a business agreement with Mahdi to open a medical clinic, as foreign nationals are required to partner with locals for such ventures. Over time, their relationship reportedly turned abusive, with allegations that Mahdi confiscated her passport and subjected her to physical and emotional abuse.
In an attempt to retrieve her passport and escape the alleged abuse, Nimisha is said to have administered sedatives, which unintentionally led to Mahdi’s death. She was arrested while trying to leave the country and, in 2018, was sentenced to death by a Yemeni court. Her sentence was later upheld by the Supreme Judicial Council of Yemen in November 2023. Recently, Yemen’s President Rashad al-Alimi approved her execution, setting it for July 16, escalating concerns among human rights groups and Indian authorities.
Nimisha’s only hope for survival now lies in the Sharia law provision of “blood money” (diyya), which allows for clemency if the victim’s family accepts financial compensation. However, the demanded amount reportedly exceeds $400,000, and negotiations remain uncertain. Her mother, Prema Kumari, is currently in Sana’a, making emotional appeals to local tribal and religious leaders for a pardon.
The Indian government, including the Ministry of External Affairs, has stated it is extending “all possible assistance,” while social groups and legal activists continue to push for intervention. The looming execution has sparked nationwide concern, highlighting the risks faced by Indian migrant workers, especially women, in foreign legal systems.
As the July 16 deadline approaches, the international community watches closely, hoping that a last-minute humanitarian resolution can save Nimisha Priya from the gallows. Her story serves as a chilling reminder of the complex intersections of law, justice, culture, and human rights across international borders.
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