Nimisha Priya Case EXPLAINED: Execution of Indian Nurse in Yemen Delayed | What is Blood Money? - video Dailymotion

Oneindia

Nimisha Priya Case: In this video, we break down the complex and emotional case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, whose execution in Yemen has been delayed following diplomatic efforts and a plea for forgiveness. The video also explains the concept of "blood money" (diya) — a legal provision in Islamic law . Nimisha’s family and activists are racing against time to raise the required amount to save her life. Arrested for the killing of a Yemeni national under disputed circumstances, Nimisha Priya has been on death row since 2020.        #NimishaPriya #NimishaPriyaExecution #NimishaPriyaYemenCase #StayOfExecution #NimishaPriyaUpdate #KeralaNurse #NimishaPriyaPlea #ExecutionInYemen #NimishaPriyaNews #NimishaPriyaJuly18 #NimishaPriyaPostponed #NimishaPriyaCase #NimishaPriyaJustice #SaveNimishaPriya #NimishaPriyaExecutionStay  ~HT.178~PR.152~

Transcript

00:00Nimisha Priya, the Kerala nurse convicted in Yemen for the 2017 death of a Yemeni businessman,

00:18was scheduled for execution on July 16, 2025. However, recent reports confirm her execution

00:26has been deferred, offering a temporary reprieve amid ongoing diplomatic and legal efforts to save her life.

00:39Born on January 1, 1989 in Kolingode, Palakkar, Kerala, Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a

00:47nurse in a government hospital in Sanaa. She aimed to support her financially strained family as her

00:54mother, Prema Kumari, worked as a domestic helper. In 2011, she married Tommy Thomas and they had a

01:02daughter. Due to financial difficulties and Yemen's civil unrest, her husband and daughter returned to

01:09India in 2014, while Priya stayed to earn. In 2014, Priya partnered with Mehdi, a Yemeni businessman,

01:24to open a clinic, as Yemeni law required a local partner. Their relationship deteriorated,

01:31with Priya alleging Mehdi stole funds, confiscated a passport, forged documents claiming they were

01:38married and subjected her to physical and psychological abuse. In July 2017, Priya injected Mehdi with

01:46sedatives, ketamine, to retrieve her passport, but he died from an overdose. She was arrested after

01:54attempting to dispose of his body, which was found dismembered in a water tank. Priya claimed the killing

02:02was unintentional aimed only at sedating him. Priya was convicted of murder in June 2018 by a Sanaa trial

02:16court and sentenced to death in 2020. Her trial was conducted in Arabic without an interpreter or adequate

02:25legal representation, raising concerns about fairness. In November 2023, Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council

02:34upheld the death sentence and in December 2024, Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi reportedly approved it,

02:42though the Yemen embassy clarified the case is handled by the Houthi-controlled

02:48authorities in Sanaa, not the recognised government. Sanaa, where Priya is imprisoned, is controlled by

03:02Iran-backed Houthi rebels, complicating diplomatic efforts as India lacks formal ties with them. This

03:09had limited India's ability to intervene directly. Under Yemen's Sharia-based legal system, the victim's

03:17family can pardon the convict in exchange for diya, i.e. blood money, potentially halting the explosion.

03:25The same Nimisha Priya International Action Council formed in 2020 by relatives, activists and NRI social

03:33workers has raised $40,000 through crowdfunding to negotiate with Mehdi's family. However, talks stalled

03:42in September 2024 due to disputes over a $40,000 pre-negotiation fee demanded by the Indian embassy

03:49appointed Yemeni lawyer Abdul Amir. The victim's family has reportedly rejected offers citing honour,

03:57though negotiations continued.

04:04India's Ministry of External Affairs had been in contact with Yemeni authorities and Priya's family,

04:09providing consular support and exploring options to delay the execution. However, on July 14,

04:152025, the Indian government had told the Supreme Court it has limited influence due to the lack of

04:21diplomatic ties with the Houthis and Yemen's complex situation. The Attorney General noted efforts through

04:27private channels, including talks with the Yemeni public prosecutor and an influential sheikh,

04:33but no breakthrough had been achieved. On July 14, 2025, the Supreme Court of India heard a plea from the

04:44Save Nimisha Priya Action Council urging diplomatic intervention. The court acknowledged the urgency,

04:50but was informed by the government that blood money remains the only viable option. However,

04:57now the execution has been deferred. Priya's mother, Prema Kumari, sold her property to fund legal efforts

05:08and travelled to Yemen in April 2024 to negotiate with Mehdi's family. She has met Priya four times

05:14in prison and remains in Sanaa with Samuel Jerome Bhaskaran, a council member coordinating efforts.

05:19Kerala Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Nareen Dramoody in July 2025 urging immediate action.

05:27Human rights groups and activists, including Samuel Jerome and lawyer Subhash Chandran,

05:32continued to push for a pardon. Priya's execution was scheduled for July 16, 2025, which has now been deferred.

05:39However, the lack of diplomatic ties with the Houthis stalled blood money negotiations and the victim's

05:49family's reluctance caused significant hurdles. Further developments are awaited as her family

05:57and other legal representatives continue the negotiations in Yemen.

06:09Download the OneIndia app now.

Nimisha Priya Case EXPLAINED: Execution of Indian Nurse in Yemen Delayed | What is Blood Money?

Category

Transcript

Recommended