The life of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse on death row in Yemen, hangs in the balance as her execution is reportedly scheduled for July 16, according to her husband, Tomy Thomas. Speaking to The New Indian Express, he revealed that Nimisha shared the news via WhatsApp from Sana’a Central Prison after being personally informed by the prison chairman.
However, despite the gravity of the situation, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia have not confirmed the execution date, adding to the uncertainty. Human rights groups and supporters are in a desperate race against time, exploring “blood money” (diya) negotiations under Yemeni law in an attempt to save her life.
In response, Kerala MPs including K. Radhakrishnan and John Brittas have made fervent appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, urging swift diplomatic intervention. Meanwhile, the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council has approached the Supreme Court of India, which is scheduled to hear the matter on July 14, just two days before the feared execution.
Nimisha’s final legal appeal was rejected, and her death sentence was upheld by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Though efforts were made to offer ₹8–10 crore in diya, the victim’s family has not yet accepted the compensation. The situation is further complicated by the lack of formal Indian diplomatic presence in Houthi-controlled Sana’a, where the execution is to take place.
As the clock ticks, the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing could become a pivotal moment in determining whether the Indian government will escalate efforts to save Nimisha Priya — or if her fate will be sealed in a foreign prison.
