- 15 July, 2025
Yemen, July 15, 2025: In a temporary reprieve, Yemeni authorities have postponed the execution of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Palakkad, Kerala, who has been sentenced to death in a murder case. Her execution was originally scheduled for July 16. The deferral comes amid last-minute efforts by the Indian government and a pending Supreme Court petition.
During a hearing on Monday, the Indian government informed the Supreme Court of the limited scope of its diplomatic options in the case. "There's nothing much government can do... looking at sensitivity of Yemen... it's not diplomatically recognised," Attorney General R. Venkataramani, representing the Centre, was quoted as saying by Live Law.
The court was hearing a petition urging the government to intervene in halting Nimisha’s execution. While acknowledging the urgency, the Centre maintained that it had already explored all feasible options. “There's a point till which government of India can go. We have reached that. Yemen is not like any other part of the world. We didn't want to complicate situation by going public, we are trying at private level,” the counsel stated.
Nimisha Priya has been on death row since 2020, convicted of the murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. According to case details, Nimisha, who had moved to Yemen in 2011 for work, remained in the country even after her husband and daughter returned to India due to financial hardship. She eventually partnered with Mahdi to open a clinic. However, Mahdi allegedly began to abuse and threaten her, even confiscating her passport. In an attempt to retrieve her passport and escape Yemen, Nimisha reportedly tried to sedate Mahdi, but he died from the dosage administered.
She is currently imprisoned in a facility under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi group, with whom India has no formal diplomatic relations. The government emphasised the difficulty in navigating this situation, stating, “It’s not a matter where govt can be asked to do something beyond... it’s very unfortunate.”
In a bid to save Nimisha from execution, her family has offered ₹8.6 crore to Mahdi’s family as 'blood money', a practice recognised under Yemen’s Sharia law. The petitioner in the Supreme Court urged the government to facilitate negotiations with the victim's family. The government responded by clarifying that such settlements are a private matter, though it is attempting to intervene discreetly. “The government was making efforts privately with some Sheikh, influential people there,” the counsel said.
The Supreme Court has re-listed the matter for further hearing on Friday, July 18.
Courtesy: Hindustan Times
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