A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India to halt the scheduled execution of Keralite nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, set for July 16, 2025. The plea, moved by the “Save Nimisha Priya Action Council,” seeks directions to the Union Government to intervene diplomatically and secure her release.
Senior Advocate Ragenth Basant mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a partial working days bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Advocate K Subhash Chandran assisted in the submission.
During the brief hearing, Justice Dhulia inquired about the background of the case. Basant explained, “I am an Indian citizen from Kerala. Went there for employment as a nurse. Local person started torturing me… and he was killed.”
The petitioner highlighted that under Shariat law, a person sentenced to death can be released if the victim’s family agrees to accept “blood money” (compensation) and that diplomatic negotiations are essential to explore this option.
While the bench agreed to list the matter on July 14, Basant expressed concern over the tight timeline. “Kindly list today or tomorrow because 16th is the date of execution. Even for diplomatic channel, time is required,” he urged.
Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death in Yemen for the 2017 murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi. According to reports, she allegedly injected him with sedatives in an attempt to recover her passport, which was in his possession. Priya has claimed that she was subjected to severe abuse and torture by Mahdi.
Earlier, Nimisha’s mother had approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel to Yemen to negotiate her daughter’s release. The Central Government informed the High Court in November 2023 that the Supreme Court of Yemen had dismissed Priya’s appeal. Acknowledging this, the Delhi High Court directed the government to decide on the mother’s representation, noting the existing travel ban for Indian nationals to Yemen.
The Supreme Court’s decision on the urgent listing will be crucial, as only limited time remains for any potential diplomatic resolution to prevent the execution.
