New Delhi: Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is set to be executed in Yemen on July 16, according to human rights activist Samuel Jerome.
The 37-year-old Nimisha, who hails from Kerala’s Palakkad, was sentenced to death for murdering Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi.
She has been in prison since 2017.
Jerome, who is part of the Save Nimisha Priya action council, confirmed that the letter of execution has been issued and jail authorities have informed Nimisha of the date.
Jerome, who has been involved in negotiations with Yemeni officials and the victim’s family, says there is still a glimmer of hope for Nimisha.
“If the (victim’s) family forgives, blood money will be paid. Negotiations were going on but they haven’t yet accepted the offer to forgive,” Jerome said.
All other legal options have been exhausted, and forgiveness from the Mehdi’s family is the only remaining possibility for Nimisha to avoid execution.
The negotiation team has reportedly offered $1 million to the victim’s family as compensation, according to Babu John, another member of the action council.
Journey to Yemen
Going back a decade and a half, Nimisha had moved to Yemenese capital Sana’a in 2011 to work as a nurse. However, her husband and daughter had to return home three years later due to financial challenges. The conflict in Yemen prevented the family from reuniting, and Nimisha stayed back there.
After working in several hospitals, Nimisha opened her own clinic in 2015 with Mehdi as her local partner, which was a legal requirement for foreign nationals in Yemen.
According to her family, disputes arose after she accused him of embezzling funds. Nimisha allegedly sedated Mehdi in a bid to retrieve her passport, which he had seized. Unfortunately, Mehdi died from overdose of the drug.
Nimisha and another Yemeni national Hanan, who was her colleague, allegedly dismembered and disposed of Mehdi’s body in a water tank.
Nimisha was arrested while trying to flee Yemen.
Earlier this year, the Yemeni embassy said the case had largely been handled by the Houthi militia, PTI reported.
Nimisha, is currently lodged in a jail in Sana’a, which is also under Houthi control.
A trial court found Nimisha guilty of Mehdi’s murder in July 2017.
Yemen’s supreme judicial council upheld the decision and sentenced her to death in 2024.
On 30th December, 2024, Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi approved Nimisha’s death sentence.
Nimisha’s mother Prema Kumari, who has been in Yemen since last year to try and save her daughter, is continuing efforts to secure forgiveness from the victim’s family.
