Nimisha Priya was convicted in 2017 for the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi and sentenced to death in 2020
Published Jul 28, 2025 | 10:44 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 28, 2025 | 10:44 PM
Nimisha Priya. (Sourced)
Thirteen-year-old Michelle, the daughter of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, arrived in Yemen on Monday alongside her father Tommy Thomas and Global Peace Initiative founder Dr K.A. Paul, in a last-ditch effort to seek clemency for her mother, who faces the death penalty.
In a moving public appeal delivered in both Malayalam and English, Michelle said, “I love my mother very much. I miss her. Please help bring her back.” The emotional plea marks the first time she has met her mother in a decade.
Nimisha Priya was convicted in 2017 for the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi and sentenced to death in 2020. Her only remaining hope lies in obtaining a pardon from Mahdi’s family under Yemeni law — a process known as blood money or diya — but efforts toward this have so far failed.
According to Nimisha, Talal had offered to help her set up a clinic but later confiscated her passport and subjected her to prolonged abuse, leading to the fatal confrontation.
Earlier negotiations for forgiveness led by Nimisha’s mother, Premakumari, had stalled. The current visit, with Michelle at the forefront, is seen as a humanitarian appeal aimed at rekindling the process of reconciliation.
