Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi has approved the execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse who has been imprisoned in Yemen since 2017 for the murder of a Yemeni citizen. According to reports, the death sentence could be carried out within a month.

In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that it is aware of the developments in Priya’s case. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We understand that Priya's family is exploring available options, and the government is providing all possible assistance."

The decision has left Priya's family in shock. Her 57-year-old mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Yemen since earlier this year, working tirelessly to secure her daughter’s release. She has been attempting to negotiate with the victim’s family for a waiver of the death penalty by offering "blood money," as allowed under Yemeni law.

Background of the Case

Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Palakkad, Kerala, moved to Yemen for work and later sought to establish a clinic in the capital, Sana’a. Yemeni law requires nationals to own businesses, so she sought the assistance of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen, to set up the clinic in 2015.

However, Priya’s appeal to the Yemeni Supreme Court claimed that Mahdi began exploiting her. Allegedly, during a visit to Kerala, Mahdi stole her wedding photograph and manipulated it to suggest they were married. Upon their return to Yemen, Mahdi reportedly seized control of the clinic, misappropriated funds, and subjected Priya to harassment and physical abuse. He allegedly used forged documents to claim ownership of the clinic and seized her passport, further restricting her freedom.

Priya claimed she sought help from Yemeni police but was arrested instead of receiving protection. Facing ongoing threats and unable to retrieve her passport, Priya took desperate measures in 2017. Following a suggestion from a prison warden, she attempted to sedate Mahdi to recover her passport. However, the stronger sedative she used caused Mahdi’s death. Priya was arrested and charged with murder.

In 2018, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in 2023. Efforts to overturn the sentence through appeals to the Yemeni President have now also failed.

Family’s Struggles and Efforts

The family’s focus has shifted to securing forgiveness from Mahdi’s family, a prerequisite to avoiding the death penalty under Yemeni tribal customs. Prema Kumari has been negotiating the "blood money," but the process has been fraught with challenges. Talks with Mahdi’s family reportedly stalled in September after the Indian Embassy’s appointed lawyer, Abdullah Ameer, demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000 (around ₹16.6 lakh).

While the Ministry of External Affairs provided approximately $19,871 for legal fees in July, the lawyer insisted on a total fee of $40,000, payable in two installments. The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council raised funds through crowdfunding to cover the first installment, but transparency concerns over the use of these funds have slowed further efforts.

Current Status and Urgency

With time running out, Priya’s fate depends on the willingness of the victim’s family to accept the blood money and forgive her. Her family, along with supporters, continues to appeal for help to save her life, while diplomatic efforts and fundraising campaigns persist.

Priya’s case has drawn attention to the complexities of international law, cultural customs, and the challenges faced by Indians abroad caught in legal disputes.