Wed Jan 01 14:44:30 UTC 2025: ## Indian Woman Faces Imminent Execution in Yemen, Family Desperately Seeks Blood Money

**Sana’a, Yemen/New Delhi, India** – Nimisha Priya, an Indian national sentenced to death in Yemen, faces imminent execution, prompting frantic efforts by her family and the Indian government to secure her release. Priya, originally from Kerala, was convicted of murder in 2018 following the death of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, after a dispute over a passport. While the Yemeni Supreme Judicial Council upheld the death sentence in November 2023, a loophole exists: the payment of “blood money” (diya) to Mahdi’s family could spare her life.

Priya’s husband, Tomy Thomas, confirmed that the family is actively pursuing this avenue, hoping to negotiate with Mahdi’s relatives. “Numerous people are working to resolve this,” Thomas stated, adding that their daughter is suffering from the separation. The urgency is heightened by reports that the execution could take place within a month, following President Rashad al-Alimi’s approval of the sentence earlier this month.

Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, has tirelessly campaigned for her daughter’s release, even traveling to Sana’a earlier this year to negotiate the diya payment. She’s received support from the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council. The Indian government has also confirmed it is exploring options to assist Priya.

The case has garnered significant attention, highlighting the precarious situation faced by Indian nationals abroad. The family’s desperate plea underscores the high stakes and the limited time available to prevent a tragic outcome.

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