The Indian government is actively working to assist Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old nurse sentenced to death in Yemen for the murder of her business partner. The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that they are providing comprehensive support, including legal aid and facilitating consular access for Priya’s family.
Priya’s execution, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed following interventions from Indian officials, private citizens, and a prominent Muslim cleric from her home state of Kerala. The Indian government’s efforts have involved coordinating with Yemeni authorities and engaging with other friendly governments to secure a reprieve.
According to Foreign Ministry Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal, India has appointed a lawyer to assist Priya’s family and has arranged for regular consular visits. The government has also actively worked to buy time, hoping to facilitate a mutually agreeable solution with the victim’s family.
Priya was arrested in July 2017 after Talal Abdo Mahdi, her Yemeni business partner, died from poisoning. She was found guilty and sentenced to death in 2020, with her final appeal rejected in November 2023. Her only remaining hope lies in offering ‘blood money’ – financial compensation – to the victim’s family.
While the Indian diaspora has raised over $40,000 through crowdfunding efforts, Mahdi’s family has remained resolute in their demand for retribution, rejecting the compensation. This has further complicated the already delicate situation.
Adding another layer of complexity, India’s Supreme Court recently allowed a private organization, the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council, to seek government permission to travel to Yemen for negotiations, despite a current ban on Indian citizens visiting the war-torn country. The situation remains tense, and the outcome uncertain, highlighting the significant challenges faced in navigating international legal and cultural complexities in a conflict zone.
