Relatives of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, currently sentenced to death in Yemen, are urgently seeking to commute her death sentence, with her execution scheduled for Wednesday. The case has attracted significant attention in Indian media as Priya was convicted for the murder of her former business partner, a Yemeni national, whose body was found in a water tank in 2017. She received the death penalty from a court in the capital, Sanaa, in 2020. Her family’s efforts to secure her release have been complicated by the lack of formal diplomatic relations between New Delhi and the Houthi authorities controlling the region since the civil war erupted in Yemen in 2014.
As the execution date approaches, human rights groups have ramped up their calls for clemency. Amnesty International issued a statement on Monday, urging the Houthis to “immediately establish a moratorium on all executions and commute Priya’s and all existing death sentences as first steps.” The organization emphasized that “the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”
In Yemen, the legal framework allows for clemency if the victim’s family grants forgiveness, often in exchange for a payment known as “diyah,” or blood money. Samuel Joseph, a social worker assisting Priya’s family, expressed optimism, stating, “I am optimistic… The government of India is directly involved, and there’s nothing more I can say at this point.” Joseph has been living in Yemen since 1999 and is coordinating efforts to facilitate a resolution.
Priya is accused of injecting her business partner with a lethal dose of sedatives. Her family argues that she acted in self-defense, claiming the victim was abusive and had withheld her passport during the ongoing conflict. Joseph noted that her trial was conducted in Arabic without a translator, raising concerns about the fairness of the proceedings.
Struggles for Support and Negotiation
In 2020, a group of activists and legal professionals formed the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council to advocate for her release and negotiate with the victim’s family. Activist Rafeek Ravuthar described the negotiations as challenging due to the lack of an Indian diplomatic presence in Yemen. “The reality is that there is no Indian embassy, there is no mission in this country,” Ravuthar stated. The council has raised approximately 5 million rupees (nearly $58,000) to support their efforts.
Recently, politicians from Priya’s home state of Kerala have appealed to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for intervention. In a letter, Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged the Prime Minister to take up the matter, emphasizing the need for sympathy in this case.
In February, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, addressed the parliament, asserting that the government prioritizes the welfare of Indians abroad and is providing all possible support in Priya’s case. He noted that discussions regarding her potential release are ongoing between the families involved.
The Journey to Yemen
Nimisha Priya arrived in Yemen in 2008, joining many from Kerala seeking better opportunities in the Middle East. Initially, she worked as a nurse in a local hospital, aspiring to establish her own clinic to secure a future for her husband and young daughter. In 2014, with financial backing from her husband, Tomy Thomas, she opened a clinic in Sanaa, hoping to create a stable life.
However, the political instability in Yemen soon disrupted her plans. The same year she opened her clinic, Houthi rebels took control of the capital, leading to a civil war that has devastated the country. Many expatriates chose to leave Yemen, but Priya opted to stay, determined to protect the life she had built.
India does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with the Houthis, and all consular matters are managed through the Indian Embassy in Djibouti, which complicates the situation for Priya’s supporters. They face significant challenges in securing legal aid and assistance while navigating a country plagued by conflict.
Yemen has one of the highest rates of executions globally, with Amnesty International reporting that the Houthis conducted at least one execution in areas under their control in 2024. Priya’s mother, a domestic worker from Kerala, has remained in Yemen for over a year to facilitate negotiations, having sold her home to fund her daughter’s legal fees.
Priya’s husband and daughter continue to reside in Kerala, holding on to hope for her release. “My wife is very good; she is very loving,” Thomas said. “That is the sole reason I am with her, supporting her and will do so till the end.”
As the clock ticks down to her scheduled execution, Priya’s family and supporters remain committed to fighting for her life, navigating a complex web of legal, social, and diplomatic challenges.
