Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya Faces Execution in Yemen: India’s Legal and Diplomatic Challenges

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, is scheduled to be executed on July 16 in Sanaa, Yemen, following her conviction for the 2017 murder of a Yemeni citizen. The case has been marked by legal and diplomatic complexities from the outset. Despite the Indian government’s efforts, a resolution remains elusive. With her legal options dwindling, Priya’s last hope rests on ‘Diya,’ or blood money, a possibility with a limited timeframe. Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 with her husband and daughter, but stayed behind to manage the family’s finances after they returned to India. She started a clinic in 2014, requiring a local partner, who turned out to be Talal Abdo Mahdi. She alleged that Mahdi created a fake marriage certificate and subjected her to harassment, confiscating her passport. In 2017, she attempted to regain her passport by sedating him, but he died from an overdose. His body was later dismembered and hidden with the help of another woman. While the Indian government has been involved, diplomatic limitations due to the presence of Houthi rebels have created hurdles. Priya’s mother traveled to Yemen to seek her release, and attempts at a ‘Diya’ settlement have also been unsuccessful. Now, her fate hinges on the victim’s family accepting ‘Diya’ to avoid the death penalty.