India is actively extending all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse, whose death sentence has been sanctioned in Yemen. Nimisha Priya, sentenced to death for the murder of a Yemeni national, faces execution unless pardoned by the victim’s family. On Monday, Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi approved her death sentence, raising the urgency of diplomatic efforts to save her life.
Background Of The Case
Nimisha Priya, a resident of Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to work as a nurse. By 2015, she had started her own clinic with a local partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, as required under Yemeni law. According to her family, disputes arose when she accused Mehdi of financial misconduct. The situation escalated when Priya, attempting to retrieve her passport allegedly held by Mehdi, injected him with sedatives, which led to his death due to an overdose.
Following the incident in 2017, Priya was apprehended while attempting to leave Yemen. In 2020, a trial court in Sana’a sentenced her to death. Her appeal was dismissed by Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023, leaving her fate dependent on obtaining forgiveness from the victim’s family.
Efforts For Release
India has been closely monitoring the situation. “We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. The government is extending all possible help in the matter,” said Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Negotiations with the victim’s family and tribal leaders were ongoing, with the option to pay “blood money” still open.
However, progress was hindered by financial delays. The lawyer representing Priya demanded USD 40,000 in two installments as pre-negotiation fees, stalling talks when payments were not completed.
In April 2024, Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, traveled to Yemen and met her daughter in prison for the first time in 11 years. Since then, she has been working tirelessly to secure her release.
The Current Scenario
With the death sentence now sanctioned, Priya faces imminent execution unless a pardon is obtained within a month. Yemeni law allows the death sentence to be revoked if the victim’s family accepts blood money and forgives the accused. However, time is running out, and diplomatic channels are being explored intensively.
The Indian government, alongside Priya’s family, continues to advocate for her release, leveraging all legal and diplomatic avenues to ensure justice and mercy prevail.