Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, is facing execution in Yemen on July 16 after being convicted of the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national. The case has garnered significant attention, with the Indian government and various organizations working to save her life.

Background of the Case

In 2008, Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen seeking better career opportunities and to support her parents. In 2014, she partnered with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, to open a clinic, as local laws required foreign nationals to have a local partner to start a business. Over time, their relationship deteriorated, and Priya accused Mahdi of physical, mental, and financial abuse. She alleged that Mahdi had confiscated her passport, preventing her from leaving the country, and used drugs to control her. When she reported the abuse to local authorities, she was allegedly arrested instead of being offered protection.

In July 2017, Priya attempted to sedate Mahdi to retrieve her passport. However, he died from an overdose of the sedative. With the help of a fellow Yemeni nurse, Priya dismembered Mahdi's body and disposed of it in a water tank. She was arrested in August 2017 while attempting to flee Yemen.

Legal Proceedings and Conviction

In 2018, Priya was tried by a Yemeni criminal court and sentenced to death for Mahdi's murder. The court found that she had premeditated the act of injecting Mahdi with sedatives. Her appeals were rejected by higher courts, and in November 2023, the Supreme Judicial Council of Yemen upheld her death sentence.

Efforts to Save Nimisha Priya

The Indian government has been closely monitoring the case and providing all possible assistance to save Priya's life. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that India does not have formal diplomatic ties with the Houthi-led administration in Sana'a, where Priya is imprisoned. India's diplomatic relations are with the Presidential Leadership Council, which is the internationally recognized government.

One potential avenue for saving Priya's life is through "Diya" or blood money, which is permissible under Yemeni law. If Mahdi's family accepts blood money, Priya's execution could be prevented. However, as of now, the family has refused any such offer. In 2024, Priya's mother, Prema Kumari, traveled to Yemen after selling her house to plead for her daughter's life.

The "Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council" has also been campaigning for her release. Despite these efforts, time is running out, with the execution scheduled for July 16.

Supreme Court Intervention

On July 10, 2025, the Supreme Court of India decided to hear a plea seeking the Indian government's intervention to save Nimisha Priya. The plea, filed by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, requests the court to direct the government to use diplomatic channels to negotiate with the victim's family and offer blood money. The court has scheduled a hearing for July 14.

The case remains a race against time, with Priya's fate hanging in the balance.