Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya is set to be executed in Yemen for the murder of her business partner. Her husband and daughter still hope for a miracle as July 16th approaches.
Nimisha Priya: Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, imprisoned in Yemen, is scheduled to be executed on July 16th. She is accused of murdering her Yemeni business partner. This case is not just legal, but also touches upon human emotions. Her 13-year-old daughter and husband in India still hold onto the hope of a miracle.
Kerala Nurse, Yemen Dream, and a Tragic Turn
Nimisha Priya, hailing from Kerala, decided to go abroad to improve her family's financial situation. In 2008, at the age of 19, she obtained a nursing diploma and moved to Yemen, where she secured a job at a government hospital in Sana'a. Everything was going well.
Marriage, Family, and Return to Yemen
After three years, Nimisha returned to India for her wedding and married auto driver Tommy Thomas. Following the marriage, she went back to Yemen with her husband. They had a daughter there, but they began facing difficulties managing their household. Her husband, Thomas, returned to India with their daughter in 2014.
Clinic Established to Bring Daughter Back
Nimisha, separated from her daughter, decided to open her own medical clinic to increase her income. However, Yemeni law required foreign nationals to partner with local citizens. It was during this time that she met a Yemeni citizen named Mahdi. Mahdi accepted the partnership proposal.
Mahdi's Conspiracy and Clinic Seizure
During a trip to India, Mahdi secretly stole Nimisha's wedding photos. Upon returning to Yemen, he seized the clinic and began claiming to be Nimisha's husband. He misappropriated the clinic's earnings and started mentally and physically abusing Nimisha.
Passport Seized, Police Complaint, and Arrest
Mahdi also seized Nimisha's passport to prevent her from leaving the country. Tired of the abuse, Nimisha filed a police complaint, but instead of taking action, she was put in jail. Although she was released from jail after six days, Mahdi's atrocities increased.
Sedative and Then Death
On the advice of a jail warden, Nimisha gave Mahdi a sedative to get her passport back. However, Mahdi was a drug user, so the first dose didn't work. The second dose was too high, which resulted in Mahdi's death.
Body Parts and Arrest
Reportedly, Nimisha dismembered the body and put the parts in a water tank, and then tried to escape. But she was caught and sentenced to death in 2020.
Appeal Against the Verdict and Unsuccessful Attempts
Her family in India appealed to the High Court of Yemen, but it was rejected in 2023. In 2024, the top political council of the Houthi rebels in Yemen approved the execution.
Blood Money as the Last Resort
Under Yemeni Sharia law, the only way to pardon a convict is to pay 'blood money,' meaning compensation to the victim's family. Nimisha's family offered up to $1 million for blood money. About 3.8 million rupees have been given to Mahdi's lawyer so far, but no pardon has been granted.
Hope and Appeals in India
A group called the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council' has been formed in India to raise funds. The Ministry of External Affairs is also monitoring the case. But time is running out. Nimisha is scheduled to be executed on July 16th.
The 13-Year-Old Daughter's Appeal
Nimisha's 13-year-old daughter talks to her mother every Tuesday and repeatedly asks the same question: "Mom, when will you come?" Husband Thomas says they still hope for a miracle.
