Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been sentenced to death in Yemen. A petition is being heard in the Supreme Court today, requesting diplomatic intervention from the central government.
Nimisha Priya Case: Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, is facing the death penalty in Yemen. The case is related to an alleged murder in 2017, in which she was held responsible for the death of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi. Her execution date has now been set for July 16th, and a crucial hearing on this matter is scheduled in the Supreme Court today.
What is requested in the petition?
The petition filed in the Supreme Court appeals to the central government to use diplomatic channels to save Nimisha from execution. The petitioner suggests that under Sharia law applicable in Yemen, the death sentence can be averted by offering 'blood money' or compensation to the victim's family.
This petition has been filed by Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R. It states that Nimisha's family has offered $1 million, approximately 8.6 crore rupees, as blood money. The hearing on the petition is the responsibility of a bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta.
Who is Nimisha Priya?
Nimisha Priya is a resident of Palakkad district in Kerala and a nurse by profession. She went to Yemen in 2011, where she started working in the medical field. At that time, the political and social situation in Yemen was stable, but later the situation began to deteriorate.
When unrest increased in Yemen, her husband and daughter returned to India, but Nimisha remained there. She continued to work in Yemen to remain financially stable for her family.
How was the murder charge brought?
According to Yemeni laws, any foreign medical professional who wants to open a clinic has to make a Yemeni citizen a partner. For this reason, Nimisha made Talal Abdo Mahdi her partner. It is alleged that Talal manipulated documents to show that he was Nimisha's husband.
After this, he seized Nimisha's passport and subjected her to physical and mental abuse for years. He even repeatedly issued threats.
What happened on the night of the murder?
In 2017, Nimisha made a plan to make Talal unconscious, retrieve her passport, and return to India. But this plan failed. The attempt to make Talal unconscious proved fatal, and he died.
After this, it is alleged that Nimisha dismembered the body and tried to dispose of it. She was arrested in this case and sentenced to death in 2020. In 2023, the Supreme Judicial Council of the Houthi administration upheld this sentence.
Why is the case so complex?
Nimisha is currently in a prison in Sana'a, which is under the control of the Houthi rebels. This part of Yemen does not come under formal diplomatic relations with the Indian government, which makes the process of intervention and dialogue more difficult. Despite this, the Indian government and social activists are constantly trying to save Nimisha through blood money.
