The family of an Indian nurse are making a desperate final bid to save her life, as she is due to be put to death in Yemen.
Nimisha Priya, 34, a Christian mother of one, was sentenced to death in 2020 for the alleged murder of her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, who she claims was abusing her.
This week, the president of the rebel Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, approved her execution. Under Yemen’s Sharia law, the only way to spare Nimisha’s life is to secure forgiveness from the deceased’s family through a ‘blood money’ payment.
Samuel Jerome, a Yemen-based social worker, told BBC News that the power to override the execution lies with Mahdi’s family.
“If they say they do not want to or can pardon her, the sentence would be immediately stopped,” he said.
Aged just 19, Nimisha travelled from India to Yemen to set up her own practice. She hoped for her husband, Tony Thomas, and young daughter to join her.
According to Yemeni law, she had to partner with a local businessman. She partnered with Mahdi.
Allegedly, Mahdi stole Nimisha’s money and passport and threatened her with a gun, according to a court petition filed by Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council. Nimisha also states that she was physically tortured by Mahdi.
In 2017, his body was discovered in pieces in a water tank. It was held that Nimisha has poisoned him with sedatives before dismembering him.
Nimisha’s lawyer states that she never intended to kill him, but wanted to knock him unconscious through the sedatives so she could take back her passport.
Her husband and mother are now determined to do all they can to spare her.
Subhash Chandran, a lawyer who has represented Nimisha’s family in India in the past, told the BBC that the family had already crowdfunded $40,000 (£32,268) for the victim’s family. The money has been given in two tranches to the lawyers hired by the Indian government to negotiate the case (a delay in sending the second tranche affected the negotiations, Mr Jerome says).
“We now need to explore the scope for discussions with the [victim’s] family, which is possible only with the Indian government’s support,” Mr Chandran said.
India’s foreign ministry has said they are aware of Nimisha’s situation and are extending all possible help to the family.
Her family is anxious but also hopeful.
“Nimisha has no knowledge of what is happening beyond the gates of prison,” said her husband Tony Thomas, who spoke to her hours before the approval of the death sentence. “The only thing she wants to know is if our daughter is fine.”
Nimisha’s mother is currently in Sanaa, having travelled there last year after a court in India allowed her to go to the region controlled by Houthi rebels. She has met her daughter twice in prison since then.
The first reunion was very emotional. “Nimisha saw me… she said I had become weak and asked me to keep courage, and that God would save her. She asked me not to be sad,” her mother Prema Kumari told the BBC.
The second time, Ms Kumari was accompanied by two nuns who held prayers for her daughter in prison.
Christians are being urged to pray for the family.
(Agencies, Picture Courtesy: BBC)
