MEA Extends Help As Yemen President Sanctions Death Sentence To Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya

Yemen's President Rashad al-Alimi has sanctioned the execution of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse convicted of murdering a Yemeni citizen. She has been imprisoned since 2017. Reports indicate that the execution is scheduled for next month. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in India acknowledged the situation, stating that Priya's family is exploring options and receiving governmental support.

The Yemeni President's decision was unexpected for Priya's family, who have been striving to prevent her execution. Her mother, Prema Kumari, travelled to Sana'a earlier this year to negotiate a waiver of the death penalty and discuss blood money with the victim's family. Despite these efforts, progress has been challenging.

Legal Battle and Family Efforts

Priya was convicted for killing Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017 and sentenced to death by a Yemeni trial court in 2018. Her family contested this verdict at Yemen's Supreme Court, but their appeal was denied in 2023. With the President also dismissing her appeal, her fate now hinges on obtaining forgiveness from Mahdi's family and tribal leaders.

Prema Kumari attempted to negotiate blood money with Mahdi's family. However, talks stalled in September when Abdullah Ameer, a lawyer hired by the Indian Embassy, demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000 (around Rs16.6 lakh). The MEA had already paid Ameer $19,871 in July, but he insisted on a total fee of $40,000 before resuming discussions.

Background on Nimisha Priya

Nimisha Priya hails from Palakkad and worked as a nurse in Yemen for several years. Her husband and daughter returned to India in 2014 due to financial issues. That same year, Yemen descended into civil war, preventing them from returning as new visas were no longer issued.

In 2015, Priya sought Mahdi's assistance to establish a clinic in Sana'a since only Yemeni nationals could open clinics under local law. During a visit to Kerala with Priya that year, Mahdi allegedly stole her wedding photo and manipulated it to claim they were married.

Allegations Against Mahdi

Upon returning to Yemen and starting her clinic, Priya accused Mahdi of embezzling funds and altering ownership documents. He allegedly spread false claims about their marriage and took control of her earnings. According to Priya's plea, this harassment escalated into physical abuse and led to him confiscating her passport.

Priya reported these issues to Sanaa police but was instead jailed for six days without action against Mahdi. In July 2017, she consulted a jail warden near her clinic who suggested sedating Mahdi to retrieve her passport. However, after administering a stronger sedative due to his substance abuse history, Mahdi died from an overdose within minutes.
Crowdfunding Efforts

The Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council managed to gather funds for Ameer's initial fee through crowdfunding but later faced difficulties ensuring transparency regarding fund usage for donors.