The scheduled execution of Kerala-born nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has been temporarily halted, offering a brief window for renewed negotiations. The stay, granted just hours before the execution on July 16, came after urgent appeals from Indian diplomats, religious leaders, and civil society groups.
Despite this reprieve, the outlook remains grim. The family of Talal Abdo Mahdi—the Yemeni national she was convicted of murdering—has categorically rejected all offers of blood money, a form of compensation permitted under Sharia law. In a public statement, Mahdi’s brother said, “blood cannot be bought,” demanding full retributive justice under Islamic law.
Background
Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 for better job prospects. She later opened a clinic with Talal Mahdi, a local Yemeni businessman, using forged documents in his name due to local licensing laws. The business relationship reportedly turned abusive, and Priya alleged she was physically assaulted and denied access to her passport by Mahdi, preventing her from returning to India.
In 2017, she and an associate attempted to sedate Mahdi in an effort to retrieve her documents. The plan went tragically wrong, and Mahdi died due to an overdose. His body was later found dismembered and hidden in water tanks. In 2018, a Yemeni court convicted her of premeditated murder, sentencing her to death.
Since then, numerous Indian organizations, including the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, have lobbied for her release, proposing to pay blood money if the victim’s family agrees. India’s Grand Mufti and the Ministry of External Affairs have also been involved in behind-the-scenes efforts.
Current Status
With no new execution date announced, time is critical. Under Yemeni law, only the victim’s family has the power to grant clemency in exchange for blood money. If they remain opposed, the death sentence could still be carried out at any time.
The case continues to stir intense public emotion in India, with appeals to both humanitarian and diplomatic channels to save Nimisha Priya’s life.
