Indian Advocate Hussain Owais,Urges UN, ICJ to Halt Yemen Execution of Nurse Nimisha Priya
Advocate Hussain Owais Petitions Indian and Global Authorities to Halt Execution of Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen
Bengaluru | July 11, 2025
In a major legal and humanitarian intervention, Advocate Hussain Owais, a practicing lawyer from Bengaluru, has filed formal complaints and appeals with both international and Indian authorities to immediately halt the scheduled execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen, set to take place on July 16, 2025.
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala, has been on death row in Yemen since 2017 after being convicted in a murder case under highly controversial circumstances. Her family and several rights groups have consistently raised concerns about the fairness of her trial—reportedly held in Arabic, a language she does not understand, and without proper legal representation.
With her execution date drawing near, Advocate Hussain has taken the initiative to reach out to over a dozen influential authorities seeking immediate intervention, including:
• United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Geneva
• International Court of Justice (ICJ), The Hague
• Embassy of Yemen in New Delhi
• Embassy of India in Oman (which manages consular affairs in Yemen)
• President of India
• Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
• Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
• National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)
• National Commission for Women (NCW)
• Chief Minister of Kerala
In his petition, Hussain urged these institutions to take swift diplomatic and humanitarian steps to halt the execution, allow for independent legal review, and initiate possible negotiations for blood money (diyah) under Yemeni law.
Speaking about his appeal, Advocate Hussain stated:
“As an Indian citizen, and as she is my Indian sister, I cannot stay silent. Her life is in danger, and the justice system that condemned her did not meet international standards of fairness. I have formally offered to represent her in any international or national legal forum, if permitted.”
The complaint letter submitted on July 11, 2025, highlights the urgency of the situation and calls for immediate intervention before it becomes irreversible. It points to systemic violations in the trial process and pleads for humanitarian mercy.
Background
Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse and later opened a medical clinic with a Yemeni partner. Reports allege she faced harassment, physical abuse, and had her passport confiscated. In a desperate attempt to retrieve her documents and escape the country, an altercation resulted in the partner’s death. She was arrested and sentenced to death in 2017. All appeals were exhausted by 2023.
Now, with just days left before the execution, her family, legal advocates, and human rights defenders are urgently calling for action.
India’s Supreme Court to Hear Plea
India’s Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a petition on July 14, urging the Government of India to intervene diplomatically. That hearing will take place only two days before the scheduled execution.
A Call to Conscience
Advocate Hussain has made a broader appeal to the public, media, and lawmakers:
“This is not just a legal case. It’s a question of humanity. We must rise above borders and technicalities to save a fellow Indian’s life. Let this not become a case where silence becomes complicity.”
#SaveNimishaPriya
#JusticeForNimisha
#HumanRightsMatter
#StopExecution
#IndiaInterveneNow
