Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been in jail in Yemen since 2018, is now facing the death penalty. Her execution, earlier scheduled for July 16, has been temporarily postponed, but the situation remains very serious. Nimisha was found guilty of murdering her former business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen.

Even though the Indian government and religious leaders have tried to help, Mahdi’s family is not ready to forgive. They have made it clear that they want Qisas—a form of retributive justice under Islamic law, which means "an eye for an eye." If carried out, this would mean Nimisha could be executed any time if the family refuses to accept compensation or pardon her.

What is Qisas, and why is it important in this case?

Qisas is a principle of justice in Islamic law (Sharia) that gives the victim’s family the right to ask for the same punishment that the criminal gave to their loved one. In murder cases, it often means that the accused can be put to death. However, the victim’s family can also forgive the accused and accept "blood money" (called diyah), which can stop the death penalty from happening.

Yemen strictly follows this system. That means, even if Nimisha has support from the Indian government, the final decision lies with Mahdi’s family. And sadly, the family has completely refused to forgive her or accept any money.

In a Facebook post, Mahdi’s brother, Abdelfattah Mahdi, said clearly:

“Our demand is clear: Qisas (retribution), and nothing else, no matter what... Blood cannot be bought. Justice cannot be forgotten. Qisas will come; no matter how long the road, it’s only a matter of time. With God’s help."

He also said that they had rejected all offers for reconciliation or compensation and that postponing the execution would not change their decision.

This makes the situation very hard for Nimisha’s family and supporters. Without a change in the victim’s family’s decision, the execution can go ahead legally.

Who is Nimisha Priya, and what happened in Yemen?

Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her family financially. She worked as a nurse in several hospitals and later started her own clinic in 2014. Yemeni law does not allow foreign nationals to open businesses alone, so she partnered with Talal Abdo Mahdi, a local Yemeni man.

However, their business relationship turned bad. Nimisha later filed a complaint against Mahdi, and he was arrested in 2016. After his release, Nimisha’s family claimed he started threatening her and had taken away her passport.

In an attempt to get her passport back, Nimisha allegedly injected Mahdi with sedatives, hoping to make him unconscious. But he reportedly died from an overdose. Nimisha was arrested at the airport while trying to leave Yemen, and in 2018, she was found guilty of murder.

Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council confirmed her death sentence in November 2023.

What has the Indian government done so far?

The Indian government and many religious and legal groups in Kerala have been trying hard to help Nimisha. The Grand Mufti of India and several top religious leaders have requested forgiveness from the victim’s family. Thanks to these efforts, her execution was temporarily postponed, giving a little hope to her supporters.

However, Nimisha’s mother, who works as a housemaid in Kochi, says she is running out of time and options. She sold her house to fight the case and said:

“I am deeply grateful to the Indian and Kerala governments, as well as the committee formed to save her, for all the support provided so far. But this is my final plea; please help us save her life. Time is running out.”

A group called Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council was formed to support her. They raised money through crowdfunding to pay the lawyer appointed by the Indian Embassy in Yemen, Abdullah Ameer. However, there were some issues. The lawyer reportedly asked for $40,000 (around ₹33 lakh) to continue negotiations. The group managed to collect the first half but later faced problems in updating donors and continuing the talks.

Talks with the victim’s family reportedly stopped in September 2024.

What happens next? Can Nimisha be saved?

Legally, Nimisha’s life is still in danger. Under Yemen’s Sharia law, if the family of the victim does not forgive or accept blood money, then the execution can go ahead. As of now, the Mahdi family is firm in their stand that they want Qisas, not money or reconciliation.

This puts huge pressure on Nimisha’s family and the Indian government. Since India does not have official diplomatic ties with Yemen, it becomes harder to intervene directly. Also, the Houthi rebels, who control Sana’a, where Nimisha is jailed, are not officially recognised as the main government of Yemen.

Still, efforts are ongoing from both the Indian side and religious groups to somehow convince the victim’s family to forgive Nimisha. If that happens, her life can be saved.

But if the family doesn’t change their mind, the death sentence stands, and she could be executed anytime once a new date is set.

As her mother says, "Time is running out."

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