The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea on July 14, urging the central government to intervene diplomatically to save Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala, who is on death row in Yemen. Convicted in 2017 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Priya faces execution on July 16. Her legal team is seeking government action under provisions of Sharia law that allow for pardon upon payment of "blood money" to the victim’s family.

The petition, filed by the 'Save Nimisha Priya — International Action Council', claims Priya suffered prolonged abuse at the hands of the victim, Talal Abdo Mahdi. It alleges that Mahdi manipulated documents to claim marriage with Priya, seized her passport, and subjected her to torture and threats. The plea also notes that Priya acted in self-defense after facing severe harassment and confinement.

Senior advocates informed the court that her husband is willing to pay the required compensation for a pardon. The bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, has sought the Attorney General’s assistance and asked the Centre to update the court on any diplomatic efforts already underway.

Nimisha Priya is currently lodged in a jail in Sana’a. With her final appeal rejected in 2023, the legal team is racing against time to halt the execution. The case has drawn significant attention, with human rights groups and the Indian diaspora appealing for urgent diplomatic intervention.