Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya's Death Sentence Approved By Yemen President, India Extends 'Possible Help'

Last Updated:December 31, 2024, 10:56 IST

Nimisha Priya death sentence: Yemen President Rashad al-Alimi approved the death sentence of the 36-year-old nurse.

Nimisha Priya Death Sentence in Yemen: Reports stated that the sentence will be executed in a month's time. (Credit: News18 Malayalam)

India is “extending all possible help" to explore relevant options in the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse who was convicted of murdering a Yemeni citizen. Sources said that unless a pardon from the victim’s family is obtained, the execution will take place in a month.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal 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.

Priya was found guilty of killing Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi and has been in prison since 2017. She was sentenced to death by a trial court in Yemen in 2018 and her family has been fighting for her release since then.

According to The New Indian Express, Nimisha’s 57-year-old mother, Prema Kumari, had reached Yemen’s capital Sana’a earlier this year, and has been staying there to secure a waiver of the death penalty and negotiate the blood money with victim’s family.

She was provided assistance by the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council comprising NRI social workers based in Yemen, the report added.

The publication mentioned that negotiations with Nimisha’s family reached a dead end in September this year after the lawyer engaged by the Indian Embassy demanded more funds, part of which were raised by the Action council.

“We worked tirelessly to save Nimisha Priya’s life, but our efforts ended in vain. We managed to collect 40,000 dollars (around Rs 34,20,000), and were prepared to raise even more to save her. Along with the Action council, the chief minister, the leader of opposition, former union minister and various leaders across political lines joined hands in this effort," Nenmara MLA K Babu was quoted.

Nimisha Priya, in 2014, came in contact with Talal Abdo Mahdi, who promised to help her in starting her own clinic as a partnership was required under the Yemeni law. She set up a clinic in 2015, with the help of Mahdi.

Soon, differences cropped up between her and Mahdi and she had alleged abuse, torture by him and taking away her passport, making her trip back to her home state impossible. Mahdi also misrepresented himself as her husband to the Yemeni authorities, due to which she couldn’t get any aid from them, as per reports.

In a bid to reclaim her passport confiscated by Talal Abdo Mahdi, she allegedly injected him with sedatives. However, an overdose of the sedative resulted in his death.

Thiruvananthapuram [Trivandrum], India

News india Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya's Death Sentence Approved By Yemen President, India Extends 'Possible Help'