India on Tuesday stated it is providing all possible assistance in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala who has been sentenced to death in Yemen. Priya reportedly received the capital punishment for allegedly murdering Yemeni citizen Talal Abdo Mahdi.
“We are aware of the sentencing of Ms Nimisha Priya in Yemen. The family is exploring relevant options,” said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Tuesday. He added that the government is extending every possible form of support to assist in the matter.
Who is Nimisha Priya?
Nimisha Priya, originally from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 to further pursue her career in healthcare. Her parents are daily wage labourers and Priya’s overseas work was meant to provide financial support for her family.
Over the years, Priya worked at several hospitals in Yemen and eventually aspired to establish her own clinic. In 2017, her professional relationship with her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, took a drastic turn. According to her family, Priya opposed Mahdi’s alleged attempts to misappropriate funds from their joint venture, leading to severe disputes.
This fallout reportedly escalated, leading to the crime for which Priya has been sentenced. Media reports suggest that her family is actively seeking legal options to save her life, while the Indian government is working to provide diplomatic and legal support.
Priya’s Mother Shares Harrowing Details Of Alleged Torture
A plea filed by the mother of Nimisha Priya highlights the harrowing ordeal her daughter endured while in Yemen. According to an ANI report citing the plea, Nimisha’s business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, manipulated the ownership documents of her clinic soon after it began operating. Mahdi reportedly took control of her monthly earnings by falsely claiming that Nimisha was his wife. She further alleged that Mahdi harassed her and her family for years, even confiscating her passport to prevent her from leaving Yemen.
The plea details that Mahdi tortured Nimisha, often while under the influence of drugs and threatened her at gunpoint multiple times. He also seized her clinic’s earnings and her personal ornaments, leaving her financially and emotionally devastated.
Seeking help, Nimisha filed a complaint with the police in Sana’a. However, instead of acting against Mahdi, the police arrested her and detained her for six days. Upon her release, the torture reportedly intensified, pushing Nimisha to desperate measures.
In July 2017, Nimisha sought the advice of a jail warden near her clinic. The warden suggested that she sedate Mahdi to retrieve her passport and secure her freedom. Nimisha attempted to sedate Mahdi, but due to his substance abuse, the initial attempt failed. She tried again with a stronger sedative, but this led to an accidental drug overdose, resulting in Mahdi’s death within minutes.
