Follow TNM's WhatsApp channel for news updates and story links.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday, July 13, sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to intervene and take steps to secure the release of Nimisha Priya, a Malayali nurse facing the death sentence in Yemen. Nimisha is accused of injecting Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni man who had reportedly abused and extorted her, with a sedative, following which he collapsed and died. The Director General of Prosecution in Yemen had ordered her execution on July 16.
“It is learnt from the media that the execution of Nimisha Priya has been fixed for July 16, 2025. Considering the fact that this is a case deserving sympathy, I appeal to the Prime Minister to take up the matter and intervene with the authorities concerned to save the life of Nimisha Priya,” the letter said.
The Chief Minister also attached a letter he had sent to S Jaishankar, the Union Minister for External Affairs, earlier in March, requesting that directions be given to the Indian Embassy to intervene in the matter.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar (Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad), general secretary of the Indian Muslim Scholars Association and of Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama of AP Sunnis, has intervened to help secure Nimisha’s release. He facilitated an opportunity for the Save Nimisha Priya Council to continue discussions with the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi. Reports state that Aboobacker Musliyar also spoke with Mahdi’s brother.
Earlier, Chandy Oommen, Member of Parliament from Puthuppally in Kottayam, visited the Kerala Governor to request his intervention to help Nimisha. Kerala MPs K Radhakrishnan and John Brittas have written to the Prime Minister, and S Jayasankar urged the Union Government to undertake urgent diplomatic efforts.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India is expected to hear a plea on Monday, July 14, seeking that the Indian government use diplomatic channels to save Nimisha’s life.
Nimisha had moved to Yemen in 2008 with her husband and daughter. In 2014, her family returned to India due to a financial crisis, while she remained. The following year, she opened a clinic there with the help of Talal Abdo Mahdi, as Yemeni law requires a local citizen’s support to operate a business.
Soon after, Mahdi allegedly began subjecting her to physical torture and extortion, and reportedly confiscated her passport. In 2017, she allegedly injected him with a sedative, which led to his death. She was later sentenced to death by a Yemeni court.