Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya Faces Execution in Yemen Next Week
Priya’s family, supported by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, is tirelessly working to raise blood money to secure a pardon from the victim’s family under Yemen’s Sharia law.
The looming execution of Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse convicted of murdering a Yemeni national in 2017, has sparked urgent appeals for her life. Scheduled for next week, the hanging was sanctioned by Yemen’s president last yearConvicted in 2018, Priya’s death sentence was upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in 2023 and approved by President Rashad al-Alimi in 2024.
Nimisha's Fate hangs in balance
Priya, who moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family, opened a clinic in 2015 with Mahdi as her mandatory local partner, per Yemeni law. Disputes arose when Mahdi allegedly withheld her passport and subjected her to abuse. In 2017, Priya reportedly sedated Mahdi to retrieve her documents, but an accidental overdose led to his death. She and a colleague then dismembered and disposed of his body, leading to her arrest. Priya’s trial, conducted in Arabic without an interpreter, has raised concerns about fairness, prompting calls for a retrial.
Kerala Nurse's Death Sentence
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council has raised $40,000, but negotiations stalled due to demands for additional fees by the appointed lawyer. The family, burdened by debt, continues to crowdfund and appeal for diplomatic intervention.
India Races against Time to Save Nimisha
The Indian government, through the Ministry of External Affairs, is providing “all possible help,” engaging with Yemeni authorities and supporting negotiations. Iran has also pledged to raise the issue with Yemen. As the execution date nears, hopes rest on securing a pardon, highlighting the urgency of international cooperation to save Priya’s life.
