Indian Nurse Faces Execution in Yemen
Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is on death row in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national, is scheduled to be executed on July 16. The formal execution order has been issued by the public prosecutor, setting a firm date and intensifying the desperate, last-minute efforts to save her life through a pardon.
Final Negotiations for a Pardon
The focus of these efforts is on negotiating with the family of the victim, Talal Abdo Mehdi. A social worker, Samuel Jerome Baskaran, is mediating the talks and has confirmed he is returning to Yemen to continue the dialogue. An offer has been made to the family, but a response is still pending. The success of these negotiations is crucial, as a pardon from the victim's family is one of the few remaining avenues to prevent the execution.
Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala, was convicted of killing Mehdi in 2017. She had opened a clinic with his help but has alleged that she suffered severe mental, physical, and financial abuse at his hands.
A Mother's Fight
Her death sentence was upheld by Yemen's Supreme Court and approved by the country's president last year. In a powerful display of determination, Nimisha's mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Yemen for nearly a year, campaigning tirelessly for her daughter's release. After receiving permission from the Delhi High Court to travel to the war-torn country, she has been able to meet her daughter in prison.
The Indian government has assured its support in the case. With the execution date looming, Nimisha Priya's fate now hangs in the balance, dependent on the outcome of these final, critical negotiations.
