Kerala Nurse On Yemen’s Death Row Faces Execution On July 16; Family’s Final Plea As Time Slips Away

New Delhi: A mother lives in Kochi. Grasp a photo of wrinkled fingers. She smiles in her daughter – a crispy white nurse. His daughter Nimisha Priya is now waiting for a prison cell in Yemen. It is scheduled to die on July 16th.

In 2008, he moved to Yemen with a stethoscope and hope. His family was getting old. He had to support them. He worked in hospitals for years. He treated wounds. Blood pressure. He spoke Arabic with nurses. He gained confidence. Then he opened his own clinic.

The Yemen law requires foreign business owners to establish a partnership with the locals. That’s when Talal Abdo Mahdi entered his life. He became his partner. His partnerships turned painful. Nimisha filed a complaint. In 2016, the police arrested Mahdi. He was later released. His family says the threats never stopped.

The threats turned into fear. Fear took a desperate step. His family claims that he has injected a calming into Mahdi to get his passport back. He wanted to escape. The dosage became deadly. Mahdi died. He was caught before leaving Yemen. In 2018, a Yemeni court mahkenced him for the murder.

The High Judicial Council confirmed the decision last year. Yemen signed the execution of the president. The date was corrected for July 16.

His mother, who cleaned the houses in Kerala to live, sold the house. Walls, windows and roof – all of them went. Every Rupi tried to bring her daughter back. Attorney Subhash Chandran said he wasn’t alone. Businessmen, activists and NRIs – all of them formed a group. They called Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council.

The council tried everything. In Yemen, the legal system allows the ‘blood money’, which is a compensation paid to the victim’s family. If it is accepted, it can stop an execution. But there was a capture. The victim’s family would decide the amount. Neither the court nor the government decide it.

Negotiations started. Then they stopped. In September 2024, the process collapsed. Lawyer Abdullah Ameer, who was hired by the Embassy of India, asked for $ 20,000 before starting negotiations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs released $ 19,871. Still, Ameer said he wanted $ 40,000. Half ahead, half after.

The Council returned to mass funding. People donated. The first installment was raised. But soon new problems arose. The donors asked for transparency. Where was the money going? Who was running? The questions grew. There were no answers.

The Indian government said he was following the case. But the clock continued to mark.

His mother spoke again in January. His voice trembled. He didn’t make his eyes. He thanked everyone. Then he begged, “This is my last defense. Please help us saved your life. Time is running out.”

Yemen’s laws are harsh. The death penalty is valid in some cases such as murder, betrayal, apostase, homosexuality, drug trafficking and even adultery.

Nimisha’s case is under the murder. Execution of the penalty.

There is no objection for him anymore. No hearing anymore. Only days. The story is now in the hands of diplomats, negotiators and foreigners who can still care enough to help.