Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya's Death Sentence Sanctioned by Yemen President, India Extends 'All Possible Help'

New Delhi: Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi has sanctioned the death sentence for Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who has been convicted since 2017 for murdering a Yemeni national.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reacted to the development and said that the government is aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen.

"We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," he added.

However, reports state that until a pardon from the victim’s family is obtained, the execution will take place within a month.

The approval by the Yemeni president has shocked Nimisha's family back home, who have been attempting to save her from death row.

Reports state her 57-year-old mother, Prema Kumari, reached Sana'a, Yemen's capital, earlier this year and has since been reportedly staying there to secure a waiver of the death penalty and negotiate the blood money with the victim's father. She has been receiving aid from the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, consisting of NRI social workers based in Yemen.

Nimisha Priya's Case

Nimisha Priya has been charged with the murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi since 2017. Just a year later, she was sentenced to death by a trial court in Yemen.

She came into contact with Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2014 when he promised to help her.

Nimisha Priya, who left for Yemen in 2008, came into contact with Talal Abdo Mahdi four years later. He promised to help her start her own clinic as a local partner, which was mandatory under Yemeni law. She set up a clinic in 2015 with Mahdi's help.

However, soon after, differences arose between the two when she questioned him about alleged embezzlement. She was allegedly abused and tortured by him, and her passport was taken away, preventing her from traveling back to India.

According to reports, Mahdi also misrepresented himself as her husband to the Yemeni authorities, which prevented her from receiving aid.

In an attempt to reclaim her passport, she reportedly injected Mahdi with sedatives. However, an overdose of the sedative resulted in his death.

She was taken into custody while trying to flee Yemen.

Now, with the country’s President also approving the death sentence, her release depends on securing pardon from the victim's family and their tribal leaders. Talks with the victim's family abruptly came to a halt after Abdullah Ameer, the lawyer appointed by the Indian Embassy, demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000 (approximately Rs 16.6 lakh).