Extending all possible help: MEA on Indian nurse's case in Yemen

India on Tuesday said it is extending all possible help to explore relevant options in the case of an Indian nurse facing death sentence in Yemen.

Nimisha Priya, hailing from Kerala, has been reportedly handed capital punishment for allegedly murdering a Yemeni citizen.

Our response to media queries regarding the case of Ms. Nimisha Priya:https://t.co/DlviLboqKG pic.twitter.com/tSgBlmitCy

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) December 31, 2024

"We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

"The government is extending all possible help in the matter," he added.

Jaiswal was replying to a media query.

Background of the Case

Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse from Palakkad, was found guilty of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, in 2017. A Yemeni court sentenced her to death a year later, and her family has been tirelessly working to have the verdict overturned.

Priya’s family challenged the trial court’s decision in the Yemeni Supreme Court, but their appeal was rejected in 2023. Following this, the Yemeni President also dismissed her appeal. Priya’s only hope for release lies in obtaining forgiveness from the victim’s family and tribal leaders.

Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been negotiating with the victim’s family for forgiveness through the payment of "blood money." However, talks hit an impasse in September after the lawyer appointed by the Indian Embassy, Abdullah Ameer, demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000 (approximately Rs 16.6 lakh).

Although the MEA had already provided $19,871 to Ameer in July, he insisted on a total fee of $40,000. Despite the crowdfunding efforts by the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council to raise the first installment of this amount, there were transparency concerns over how the funds were being used.

The Circumstances Leading to the Death Sentence

Nimisha Priya moved to Yemen in 2010 and worked as a nurse in private hospitals. In 2014, due to financial constraints, her husband and daughter returned to India. That same year, Yemen plunged into a civil war, preventing their return.

In 2015, Priya sought the help of Talal Mahdi to set up a clinic in Sana'a, Yemen, as the country's laws allowed only Yemeni nationals to own clinics. During this time, Mahdi accompanied Priya to Kerala, where he allegedly stole her wedding photograph and later manipulated it to falsely claim he was married to her.

Upon their return to Yemen, Priya opened her clinic, but Mahdi took control of its revenue and manipulated ownership documents. When Priya confronted him about his embezzlement, Mahdi became hostile. He also falsely claimed Priya as his wife, even altering photographs to support this claim.

Over time, Mahdi began to demand money from Priya's earnings and seized her passport, subjecting her to physical and emotional abuse.

Despite Priya seeking help from the police in Sana’a, her situation worsened. Rather than taking action against Mahdi, the police arrested Priya and held her in jail for six days. In July 2017, Priya approached the warden of a nearby jail where Mahdi had been incarcerated.

The warden suggested she try sedating Mahdi to retrieve her passport. Priya attempted this, using a stronger sedative, but Mahdi died from an overdose shortly afterward.

The Ongoing Efforts for Justice

The government of India, alongside Priya’s family, is continuing its efforts to resolve the case, with legal avenues being explored to ensure her release.