ingh News Media | July 11, 2025
New Delhi/Sana’a — Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been on death row in Yemen since 2017, is reportedly scheduled for execution on July 16. The date was conveyed by her legal representatives, as the final countdown begins for efforts to secure a pardon under Yemeni law.
The case has drawn national attention in India and triggered global appeals for humanitarian consideration. Nimisha, a trained nurse from Kerala, had moved to Yemen for work and later opened a clinic with a local business partner.
The Case So Far
In 2017, Nimisha was arrested after her Yemeni partner died under suspicious circumstances. Reports claim she had sedated him in an attempt to retrieve her passport, which had been allegedly withheld. The situation escalated, and she was later sentenced to death by a local court.
The sentence was upheld through Yemen’s judicial process, leaving only one legal path open: a pardon by the victim’s family in exchange for blood money, a provision allowed under Yemen’s Sharia-based legal system.
Family’s Desperate Efforts
Nimisha’s mother has traveled to Yemen in a final attempt to reach an agreement with the victim’s family. Supporters of Nimisha, along with rights activists, are working to raise the necessary compensation amount. However, so far, there has been no official acceptance of the offer by the victim’s relatives.
India’s Role
The Indian government is said to be actively involved, making diplomatic efforts to delay or reverse the execution. Officials have provided legal and consular support, and are believed to be in touch with intermediaries who may help negotiate with Yemeni authorities and the victim’s family.
What Lies Ahead
With less than a week remaining, the focus is now on diplomatic backchannel talks and humanitarian outreach. If the blood money deal is accepted, Nimisha’s life may be spared. If not, her execution could proceed shortly after July 16, pending formal confirmation by Yemeni officials.
