Nimisha Priya's Husband Expresses Willingness to Pay Blood Money Amid Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 1 (NationPress) As diplomatic negotiations continue to assist Nimisha Priya, currently imprisoned in Yemen with a death sentence, her husband is optimistic for her release and safe return home.

Tomy Thomas and their daughter are hopeful that they will reach an agreement with the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi concerning the payment of blood money to resolve the case.

“Many are working diligently to address this matter, and we are all optimistic that we can connect with Mahdi's family, who hold the key to pardoning Nimisha. Our daughter occasionally speaks with her mother, but she is yearning for a mother’s love and care,” stated Thomas, who had returned home from Yemen years ago, planning to go back before the legal troubles arose.

The situation has become increasingly urgent following the approval of Nimisha Priya's death sentence by Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi earlier this month. Reports indicate that her execution could take place within a month, prompting her family and supporters to hastily seek a resolution.

Nimisha Priya, hailing from Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, relocated to Yemen in 2008 to support her economically challenged parents. After gaining experience in various hospitals, she established her own clinic. However, in 2017, a business dispute with her Yemeni partner, Mahdi, turned fatal.

Family narratives suggest that Nimisha administered sedatives to Mahdi in an attempt to reclaim her seized passport. Tragically, an overdose resulted in his death. She was apprehended while trying to exit the country and was found guilty of murder in 2018.

In 2020, a court in Sanaa sentenced her to death. The ruling was reaffirmed by Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023, but it provided a potential avenue to avert execution through the payment of blood money.

This case has garnered significant attention and raised alarms regarding the safety of Indian nationals overseas as the family and supporters persist in their quest to save Nimisha Priya from the death penalty.

Nimisha Priya's mother, Prema Kumari, 57, has been vigorously advocating for a pardon of the death sentence.

Earlier this year, she journeyed to Sanaa, Yemen's capital, to negotiate the payment of diya (blood money) to the victim's family. Her endeavors have received backing from the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, a collective of NRI social workers based in Yemen.

Prema Kumari, appearing tearfully on Malayalam television from Yemen, has made an urgent appeal for immediate intervention.