Negotiating ‘Blood Money’ Sole Option to Save Kerala Nurse Facing Death Penalty in Yemen: Lawyer

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, faces a death sentence in Yemen for the murder of a Yemeni national. The only recourse, according to her lawyer Subhash Chandran, is negotiating “blood money” with the victim’s family under Yemen’s Shariah law. However, a travel ban to Yemen since 2016 poses a significant obstacle as Indian citizens require government permission to visit. Nimisha’s mother, seeking to travel for negotiations, awaits a decision from the Delhi High Court, which has urged the central government to respond within a week.

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Chandran highlighted the urgency, emphasizing that Nimisha’s mother has sold her property to fund the legal battle. Activists and expatriates formed the Nimisha Priya International Action Council in 2023 to advocate for her justice. The council now appeals to the central government and foreign ministry to engage in negotiations with the victim’s family, citing the complex political situation in Yemen.

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Nimisha’s conviction stems from injecting sedatives into Talal Abdo Mahdi in an attempt to retrieve her passport amid alleged abuse and torture. The internal conflict in Yemen during 2017, coupled with inadequate legal defense in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, further complicates her case. Chandran argues that Nimisha is a victim of war, underscoring the need for swift governmental intervention.