Yemen Death Row Nurse Nimisha Priya: India on Tuesday (December 31) said it is providing all possible assistance to explore all options in the case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing death row in Yemen. Nimisha Priya, a resident of Kerala, has been sentenced to death for allegedly killing a Yemeni national. On December 30, 2024, the death sentence awarded to Nimisha Priya, who was imprisoned in Yemen, was approved by Yemen’s President Rashad Al-Alimi. Nimisha is accused of murdering Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are aware of Ms. Nimisha Priya’s sentencing in Yemen. We understand that Priya’s family is considering relevant options.” In response to a media question, Jaiswal said, “The government is providing all possible help in this matter.”
Nimisha Priya’s 13-year-old daughter (name withheld) has to live with the hope that she will be reunited with her mother. The little girl is confident that her mother will be forgiven and will be back with her in India with the help of the authorities of both the countries.
President Rashad al-Alimi upheld the death sentence handed down to Nimisha by his country’s court, prompting the nurse’s family and human rights groups to seek a solution to save her life. Nimisha’s mother is making every possible effort to get the death penalty commuted. Earlier this year he visited Sanaa, the capital of Yemen.
What did the family say?
Nimisha’s husband Tommy Thomas told News 18, “For the last seven years, we have been making every possible legal effort to apologize and bring Nimisha back alive. Our daughter was just two years old when this happened. But she needs the support and love of a mother. We hope that we will be able to find a solution for our wife. Ready to give ‘Diya’ (blood money).” Blood money is a traditional practice in Yemen which could have reduced Priya’s sentence.
Nimisha’s family in Kerala is quite surprised by this decision of the Yemen government. After Yemen’s President upheld the death sentence, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, “We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that Priya’s family is concerned about the relevant The government is considering options. The government is providing all possible help in this matter.
This statement comes after Yemen’s President Rashad Al-Alimi recently approved the death sentence of Nimisha Priya. Reports suggest that the hanging may take place within a month. The family is shocked by this and is running out of time to save him. Nimisha’s husband said that however, time is passing. But he is confident that the appeals and pleas of Mahdi’s family will be heard.
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The nurse’s husband told News18, “We are trying to get my wife back so that we can live like a family again. I am confident that the discussions will reach a point where we can discuss ‘Diya’.” I am positive. She is a very caring and helpful person. Now we have to compromise to save Nimisha’s life. Trying.”
Who is Nimisha?
Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kolengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to help her daily wage worker parents. He worked in several hospitals and eventually decided to open his own clinic. In 2017, there was a dispute between Nimisha Priya and her Yemeni business partner Talal Abdo Mahdi. Nimisha is accused of murdering Mahdi. Since then he is in jail. In 2020, a trial court in Sanaa sentenced him to death, and Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the verdict in November 2023. However, it kept the option of blood money open.