With Five Days To Execution, Nimisha Priya Action Council To Meet Yemeni Citizen's Family Today To Negotiate

Ernakulam: With just five days left for the Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya to be executed in Yemen, the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council is attempting one final push to secure a pardon from the family of the Yemeni man she was convicted of killing.

Samuel Jerome, a member of the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, is in Yemen and expected to meet the victim’s family on Friday. The Council hopes that this face-to-face discussion, after months of attempts, could finally lead to a breakthrough. According to Council convener Babu John, the meeting was arranged with the help of local prison authorities.

Despite the looming execution order, Nimisha remains hopeful. She has told activists she still believes the victim’s family might agree to accept diyya, blood money, and withdraw their demand for her execution. The family has been offered ₹7.5 crore (approximately $900,000), and their decision is awaited.

Her husband Tommy Thomas also remains hopeful about her possible release. After meeting the former Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday, Tommy is now trying to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is arriving in Thiruvananthapuram tonight(Friday).

“There is great hope for Nimisha’s release. Both the Central Government and the State Government are intervening in the matter,” Tommy told ETV Bharat.

Yesterday, with the help of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy’s son Chandy Oomen's help, he met the Governor at the Raj Bhavan, where the Governor also spoke with Nimisha’s mother, Premakumari, via a video call. Tommy expressed optimism about the Governor’s involvement.

He added that the Central Government has taken the needed steps regarding Nimisha’s case. “The Supreme Court has now asked the Central Government to submit a report on July 14. We will be in a better position to respond after seeing what actions the Centre outlines in that report,” Tommy said.

He also mentioned that many individuals have expressed willingness to contribute towards the blood money, describing it as “Nimisha’s ransom.” Talks are ongoing with the family of the deceased in Yemen. “We will seek more help only after receiving a clear response from them,” he said.

Nimisha's Ordeal in Yemen

Nimisha, a nurse from Palakkad in Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2012 after getting married. She opened a clinic in partnership with a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. But things took a dark turn during the Yemeni Civil War. According to her supporters, Nimisha was trapped in an abusive situation, her passport seized, and was subjected to physical and mental harassment by Talal.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Nimisha and another woman allegedly sedated Talal to retrieve their documents. He died, and both were arrested. While the Yemeni woman received a life sentence, Nimisha was sentenced to death. She failed to convince the Yemeni courts that it was not murder.

All appeals were dismissed, and last month, the country’s Director General of Prosecution signed off on the execution.

Action Council Asks SC To Intervene

Meanwhile, in India, the Action Council has approached the Supreme Court, urging the government to intervene urgently. The court has asked the Centre to submit details of the steps taken and will hear the matter again on July 14, just two days before the scheduled execution.

Efforts had earlier been made to involve Iran in the negotiations, as the Houthi leadership holds influence in Yemen. But regional tensions and the wider West Asian conflict stalled those efforts.

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