New Delhi: The scheduled execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen, has been temporarily deferred, according to official sources.
The execution, initially planned for July 16, has been postponed by Yemeni authorities, though no formal reason has been disclosed.
Priya, a 38-year-old native of Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, has been imprisoned in Sana’a since her conviction for the 2017 murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi — her former business partner.
A local court sentenced her to death in 2020, a decision upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.
The nurse, who had been working in Yemen since 2008, partnered with Mahdi in 2014 to open a clinic in Sana’a.
Their professional relationship soured over financial disputes. According to reports, Mahdi allegedly confiscated Priya’s passport and subjected her to financial and physical abuse.
In July 2017, in a reported attempt to escape the abusive situation and recover her documents, Priya administered an opioid injection to Mahdi, which led to his death.
In a bid to conceal the incident, she dismembered the body and disposed of the remains with the help of a local accomplice.
Sources familiar with the case say efforts are currently underway to negotiate a resolution with the victim’s family, which could potentially open a path to clemency.
However, details of the discussions remain undisclosed due to the sensitivity of the matter.
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The Indian government, through its diplomatic channels, is closely monitoring the situation. Officials confirmed that all necessary support is being extended to Priya, and the Ministry of External Affairs is actively seeking a “mutually acceptable outcome.”
Priya remains incarcerated in a prison located in the Yemeni capital, a region currently under the control of the Houthi administration.
Her case has drawn significant attention both in India and abroad, with human rights advocates and civil society groups calling for leniency and diplomatic intervention.
