"Extending all possible help...": India Explores all Options as Yemini President Approves Death Penalty for Nimisha Priya

India has announced that it is offering all possible assistance to Nimisha Priya, the Kerala nurse who faces a death sentence in Yemen after being convicted of murder. Yemen’s President Rashad al-Alimi approved the death penalty, with reports indicating that the execution could take place within a month.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed concern over the development, emphasizing that it is exploring all available options to support Priya. MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter."

Priya, a 36-year-old nurse from Palakkad, has been in prison in Yemen since 2017. She was convicted of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni national, and sentenced to death by a Yemeni court in 2018. Her family has fought to secure her release, with her mother, Prema Kumari, traveling to Yemen earlier this year to negotiate the death penalty’s waiver.

Priya's mother, 57, has remained in Yemen, trying to reach an agreement with the victim's family regarding "blood money" that could lead to a pardon. However, negotiations have been stymied by financial disputes involving the lawyer hired to assist in the matter. The lawyer, Abdullah Ameer, reportedly demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000, which caused a halt in talks in September. Although MEA had already provided $19,871 to Ameer earlier, he insisted on a total fee of $40,000 to resume discussions.

Despite challenges, the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council managed to raise the first installment of the lawyer’s fee through crowdfunding, but transparency issues arose regarding how the funds were being used.

Priya’s journey began in 2015, when she sought the help of Mahdi to set up a clinic in Sana'a, Yemen, as foreign nationals are prohibited from owning businesses in the country. During a visit to Kerala that year, Mahdi allegedly manipulated a wedding photograph to falsely claim he was married to Priya. Upon returning to Yemen, Mahdi started misappropriating the clinic’s earnings and took control of its ownership documents.

Priya confronted Mahdi about his financial misconduct, but he responded with hostility, eventually subjecting her to physical abuse. The situation worsened when Mahdi seized Priya’s passport, further trapping her in Yemen. Despite seeking help from local authorities, Priya’s complaints went unaddressed, and she was even jailed for six days.

In July 2017, Priya sought the help of a prison warden who suggested she try sedating Mahdi to recover her passport. However, after repeated attempts, Mahdi died from a drug overdose within minutes of being sedated.​