With just days left until the reported execution date of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, a desperate diplomatic and humanitarian effort is underway to save her life. Scheduled to be executed on July 16 for the alleged murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mehdi, the 36-year-old Keralite has exhausted all legal options and now has only one lifeline left: forgiveness from the victim's family under Yemen's Sharia law, in exchange for blood money, or 'diyah'.

Diplomatic Plea Reaches Supreme Court

Six days ahead of the reported execution, the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council moved the Supreme Court, urging the Centre to make urgent diplomatic interventions. The petition seeks directions for: Facilitating payment of diyah to the victim's family and opening a direct channel of negotiations with them to secure their pardon for Nimisha.

The plea was mentioned before the bench on Friday, with lawyers pressing the urgency. The top court has listed the matter for hearing on Monday, July 14. Agreeing that the case was an important matter, the apex court directed that a copy of the plea be given to the Attorney General.

Negotiations, Offers And Silence

Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran, a human rights activist working with the campaign, said the only remaining hope lies in convincing the victim's family. Speaking to India Today TV, he revealed an offer of $1 million, along with added support such as: Free medical treatment in Kerala for any family member the victim's relatives choose, coverage of travel costs for the same, financial assistance for relocation, should Mehdi's brother want to settle in the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
"I am optimistic about seeing a way forward," India Today quoted Jerome as saying. "But the family has not responded yet."
He also praised the Indian government's past support: "If not for General VK Singh's letter, she would have been executed a long, long time back." Jerome added that the Centre must now "speak to influential sheikhs" who might convince the family to accept the offer and issue a pardon.

India's Diplomatic Bind

Despite growing pressure from civil society and politicians, India faces significant constraints. The Ministry of External Affairs has no formal diplomatic presence in Yemen, and Sana'a, where Priya is imprisoned, is controlled by Houthi rebels, making direct intervention complicated.

Mixed Signals, Internal Tensions

While there's been no official confirmation of the July 16 execution date from the MEA, Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran claimed he received a call from the chairman of the Central Prison in Sana'a confirming the date. This was reportedly verified by a Yemeni contact linked to the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, who visited the prison.
Confusion clouds the situation. No official communication has been received from Yemeni authorities, said Supreme Court lawyer and council member Subhash Chandran KR, even as media reports cite July 16 as the date. The Action Council has called for caution until confirmed through official channels.

The Case Behind the Crisis

Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to support her parents, who worked as daily-wage labourers in Kerala. After working in hospitals, she opened a clinic in 2015 under local sponsorship rules, partnering with Mehdi.
Family and legal accounts say the relationship soured as Priya accused Mehdi of financial mismanagement and confiscating her passport. Facing alleged abuse and unable to return home, she reportedly injected him with sedatives to retrieve the document, but the overdose proved fatal. She was arrested in 2017 while attempting to flee.
A Yemeni court sentenced her to death in 2020. After her appeal was dismissed in 2023, the Houthi-appointed president, Mahdi al-Mashat, signed off on her execution.

Kerala Prays, Parliamentarians Appeal

Back home in Palakkad, Kerala, her family clings to hope. Prema Kumari, Nimisha's mother, has been in Yemen since 2024, waiting and praying. "She is very emotional… very fragile," Jerome said, noting he hasn't spoken to her in detail yet.
Meanwhile, Kerala MPs John Brittas and K Radhakrishnan have written to the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, seeking urgent steps to halt the execution. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also issued a public appeal.

India's Race Against Time

As the clock ticks toward July 16, the fate of Nimisha Priya hangs in the balance. With no official stay, no confirmed pardon, and no embassy on the ground, India faces a race against time - and against diplomacy's limits—to save one of its own. For Nimisha, her family, and the nation watching, every hour now counts.