Nurse Nimisha Priya Set for Execution in Yemen
Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 with the hope of securing a better future and financially supporting her ageing parents back home. She took up a nursing job, determined to make a stable living and send money to her family. Known for her dedication and hard work, Nimisha gradually built a life in the conflict-ridden country despite its challenges. Her journey reflected the sacrifices many make for their loved ones, leaving behind comfort and safety in search of economic security and family well-being.
Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala, is scheduled to be executed on July 16 in Yemen after being convicted of murdering a Yemeni national.
Her case, long followed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has drawn emotional appeals, legal battles, and global campaigns—yet, time is running out.
Nimisha Priya left her home in Kerala in 2008 with a dream that many Indian migrant workers share—to build a better life and support ageing parents back home. She was in her early twenties when she moved to Yemen, determined and full of hope. Over the years, she worked tirelessly in several hospitals, proving her dedication as a nurse. Eventually, with years of experience behind her, she dared to open her own clinic.
But Yemen, already a complex and conflict-ridden nation, presented new challenges. To legally run her clinic, Nimisha was required to have a local partner. In 2014, she entered into a partnership with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen. This partnership would change the course of her life.
A Dangerous TurnBy 2016, their relationship had soured badly. Nimisha reportedly filed a complaint against Mahdi for harassment, leading to his brief arrest. Upon release, the situation only worsened. According to Nimisha’s family, Mahdi retaliated by allegedly confiscating her passport—effectively trapping her in Yemen and threatening her freedom.
In a desperate bid to recover her passport, Nimisha allegedly injected Mahdi with sedatives, hoping to retrieve the document while he was unconscious. The dosage, however, proved fatal.
Legal Maze and Death SentenceHer trial moved swiftly. In 2018, she was convicted of murder. Later that year, the final approval was given by Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi.
Additionally, concerns over how the raised funds would be handled further complicated the situation.
Final Efforts, Fading HopeThe human cost of the case is felt most painfully by her mother, Prema Kumari. A domestic worker in Kochi, Prema sold her only home to fund her daughter’s legal fight. In 2024, she travelled to Yemen—braving danger and unfamiliar territory—to personally plead with the victim’s family for forgiveness.
Crowdfunding campaigns and human rights organizations, including the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, rallied support both in India and abroad. Despite raising funds for diya, the victim’s family has remained unmoved.
Time is now the greatest enemy. With the execution date set for July 16, all hopes rest on a last-minute change of heart from the victim’s family.
A Call for CompassionThe case of Nimisha Priya is layered—legally, morally, and emotionally. While a life was lost, there are those who argue that Nimisha did not act with malicious intent, but rather in a moment of desperation. Supporters emphasize her years of service as a nurse, her personal sacrifices, and the oppressive circumstances she reportedly faced.
On the other side is a grieving family in Yemen who lost a loved one and are entitled to justice under their law.
As the clock ticks down, Nimisha’s fate lies not in the hands of judges or diplomats, but in the capacity for forgiveness from a single family. For her mother, and many who have followed this tragic journey, hope flickers on—but only just.