Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse from Kerala facing execution in Yemen, may receive a temporary reprieve after new diplomatic developments emerged just days before her scheduled execution on July 16. As of July 15, unofficial communications from Houthi-controlled Yemen suggest that the execution may be postponed, giving fresh hope to her family and supporters.
The 36-year-old nurse was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. She reportedly injected him with sedatives in an attempt to recover her passport, but the man died from an overdose. Her death sentence was confirmed by Yemen's courts in 2020 and again in 2023.
India's Ministry of External Affairs informed the Supreme Court that all formal diplomatic channels have been exhausted due to the absence of official ties with the Houthi administration in Sana’a. Despite these constraints, a senior Yemeni tribal leader has conveyed to Indian intermediaries that there is a likelihood of the execution being put on hold.
The Supreme Court of India, which is hearing a petition filed by civil society organizations and family members, has postponed its next hearing to July 18, citing ongoing developments. The petitioner’s counsel confirmed that negotiations over blood money compensation—permissible under Yemeni law—have not yet reached a resolution. The victim’s family reportedly suspended discussions citing social pressure and issues of honour.
Meanwhile, appeals continue to pour in from Indian political leaders, including MPs from Kerala and representatives of major political parties. Religious leaders have also stepped forward, appealing to authorities in Yemen for mercy on humanitarian grounds.
The 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council', a support group formed by activists and family members, remains hopeful that tribal and religious leaders in Yemen will facilitate further dialogue. Nimisha's husband, Tomy Thomas, has expressed cautious optimism and urged the Indian government to intensify its efforts.
With the next hearing in the Indian Supreme Court scheduled for July 18 and no official notice of execution carried out, attention now turns to whether a diplomatic or legal breakthrough can be achieved in time.