YEMEN : Nimisha’s case has garnered international attention, highlighting the complex legal and humanitarian challenges faced by individuals caught in the web of foreign legal systems.

Nimisha Priya, hailing from India’s Kerala state, faces an impending execution in Yemen after being convicted of the 2017 murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a local resident.

Nimisha Priya, just 19 when she left Kerala for Yemen in pursuit of a better life, now finds herself on the brink of death. Working as a nurse in Sanaa, she envisioned lifting her family out of poverty. However, a fateful turn of events led to her arrest and subsequent conviction for the murder of Talal Abdo Madhi.

With Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council rejecting her appeal and setting the stage for her execution, Nimisha’s only lifeline lies in securing a pardon from the victim’s family. The option to pay diyah, or “blood money,” under Sharia law looms as her last hope for survival.

Despite an earlier rejection of her appeal by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November, Nimisha’s family, accompanied by Samuel Jones from the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, has embarked on a journey to Yemen’s capital, Sanaa. Their mission is to seek forgiveness and secure a pardon for Nimisha by offering diyah, also known as “blood money,” to the victim’s family.

The emotional plea comes after a series of legal hurdles. Due to a 2017 Indian government ban on citizens travelling to Yemen, Nimisha’s family faced challenges in reaching out to her and seeking a pardon earlier. However, a recent decision by the Delhi High Court allowed her mother, Prema Kumari, and her daughter, Mishal, to make the trip to Sanaa.

The situation in Yemen adds layers of complexity to the family’s mission. Sanaa is currently under the control of Houthi rebels amidst a prolonged civil war, posing significant risks to foreign nationals. Nevertheless, the family is determined to navigate these challenges in a bid to save Nimisha’s life.