New Delhi, July 14 – As the clock ticks down to July 16, when Indian nurse Nimisha Priya is scheduled to be executed in Yemen, the Supreme Court of India will on Monday hear a last-minute plea seeking urgent diplomatic intervention from the Central Government.
The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, represented by advocate Subhash Chandran, who also serves as Nimisha’s family’s legal counsel, filed the case, which will be heard by a two-judge panel made up of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
The request calls on the government to intervene right now and enable the victim’s family to receive “diyah” (blood money) by Islamic law, which may be able to save Nimisha’s life.
Who is Nimisha Priya and What is the Case About?
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, has been in a Yemeni prison since 2017 for the murder of her former business associate Talal Abdo Mahdi. The case is as complex as it is tragic.
According to her family, Nimisha was trapped in an abusive partnership. Mahdi allegedly took control of her passport, physically assaulted her, and forged marriage documents to ensure she couldn’t escape the country.
She gave Mahdi a tranquilizer injection in a last-ditch effort to get her passport back and leave Yemen. When he overdosed and died, the plan failed. The body was discovered dismembered in a water tank after she and an accomplice reportedly tried to dispose of it.
In 2020, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death. The Yemeni president authorized her execution, which is currently set for July 16, 2025, after her last appeal was denied in 2023.
A Slim Window for Hope: Supreme Court’s Role
Advocate Subhash Chandran has asked the apex court to issue a writ of mandamus to the Union Government, directing it to:
Initiate diplomatic negotiations with the victim’s family.
Facilitate the payment of blood money, as allowed under Yemeni and Islamic law.
The petition notes that supporters have already raised over $1 million (₹8.5 crore) for this purpose. However, the victim’s family has not yet responded, leaving Nimisha’s fate uncertain.
In a prior order, the Supreme Court instructed that the petition be served to the Attorney General of India. It directed the Centre to explain what steps it has taken, if any, to prevent Nimisha’s execution.
Center Under Stress
The Supreme Court hearing tomorrow could have a significant outcome. Human rights organizations, the legal petitioners, and an increasing number of citizens calling for justice and compassion for Nimisha are all putting increasing pressure on the Indian government.
Whether this case ends tragically or with a chance for redemption depends on how urgently the Center pursues diplomatic channels.