Nimisha Priya case | Kerala nurse faces execution in Yemen on July 16: Desperate push for pardon, but big hurdles remain

Credit: @RakshaSamachar / X

Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old Indian nurse hailing from Kerala’s Palakkad district, is scheduled to be executed in Yemen on July 16, 2025, after being convicted of murder, according to human rights activist Samuel Jerome, who holds the power of attorney for Nimisha's mother Prema Kumari, according to a report by The Indian Express.

However, there has been no official confirmation of the execution date from the Indian embassy in Yemen, ministry of external affairs (MEA) or Save Nimisha Priya Action Council.

The story of Nimisha Priya

Nimisha had gone to the Gulf region in search of better job opportunities. She had been working as a nurse in Yemen for several years and even ran a small clinic in partnership with Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi. However, her journey in Yemen turned into a nightmare when she was accused and later convicted of murdering Talal in 2017, TOI reported.

As per the report, Talal had allegedly taken control of Nimisha’s passport, making it difficult for her to leave the country. In an attempt to retrieve her passport, Nimisha allegedly gave Talal a sedative, but the dosage turned out to be fatal.

Later, she and a Yemeni colleague, identified as Hanan, allegedly dismembered the body and disposed of the remains in a water tank. This led to her arrest, trial, and eventual death sentence by a Yemeni court in 2018. The verdict was later upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Court, and in 2023, President Rashad al-Alimi signed off on the execution order.

What complicates the situation?

The situation is further complicated because Nimisha is imprisoned in a region controlled by the Houthi group, a faction with whom India has no formal diplomatic ties. This limits the Indian government’s ability to intervene directly.

Also, the efforts to secure Priya’s release through the Islamic tradition of “diyat”, or paying “blood money” to the victim’s family, ran into complications, Hindustan Times reported.

Priya’s mother Premakumari, travelled to Yemen last year to take up negotiations for payment of blood money, HT reported. She is being assisted in these efforts by a group of non-resident Indians in Yemen.

Hopes still alive

Samuel Jerome Baskaran, a social worker who is currently involved in negotiations with government officials in Yemen and Talal’s family, confirmed the development. He is currently trying to negotiate with Talal’s family to secure a pardon, which remains the only possible way to stop the execution.

"Hope still remains. Mahdi's family can forgive her even at the last moment. Govt of India can also intervene now for her release...," TOI quoted Jerome as saying, who added that he will arrive in Yemen on Wednesday to hold further discussions.

As per The Indian Express, Nimisha’s mother, Prema Kumari, a domestic worker in Kochi, has been in Yemen for nearly a year, fighting for her daughter’s life. She had previously approached the Delhi High Court to get permission to travel to the conflict-torn country. Since arriving in Yemen, she has managed to visit Nimisha in jail several times.