The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has assured that the Indian government is extending all possible assistance to Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya, whose death sentence for murdering her Yemeni husband has been approved by Yemen President Rashad Muhammed al-Alimi. Nimisha, who was convicted of killing Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017, faces execution within a month unless her family successfully negotiates a blood money settlement.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. The government is providing all possible help, and her family is exploring relevant options.”
Nimisha, who had started a health clinic with Mahdi in Sana’a and later married him, claimed she faced relentless abuse and torture. In an attempt to retrieve her passport, which Mahdi had confiscated, she injected him with sedatives. The prosecution, however, established that Nimisha murdered Mahdi, dismembered his body, and disposed of the remains in a water tank.
As the execution looms, the Save Nimisha Priya Action Council, along with her family, is expediting negotiations with the victim’s family and tribal leaders to secure a blood money settlement. Nimisha’s mother is currently in Sana’a leading discussions.
Negotiations hit a roadblock in September when Abdullah Ameer, the Indian Embassy-appointed lawyer, demanded a $20,000 pre-negotiation fee despite the MEA already providing $19,871 in July. While the council raised part of the fee through crowdfunding, transparency concerns have hindered further fundraising efforts.
The case has sparked widespread attention, with supporters urging swift action to save Nimisha. The situation remains tense, as time is of the essence to avert her execution.
