The Government of India has assured all possible help in the case of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya, who is facing death sentence in Yemen. 36-year-old Nimisha, a resident of Kerala, has been convicted in the murder of a Yemeni national. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is working with Priya’s family to help them explore relevant options.
Nimisha Priya’s journey: From Kerala to Yemen
- Nimisha Priya, a resident of Kollengode in Palakkad district of Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 to help her parents financially.
- After working in several hospitals, he opened his own clinic in 2014 in partnership with Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi to start a business under local laws.
- The dispute started when the relationship between the two deteriorated.
What is the whole matter?
- There was a dispute between Nimisha and Mahdi in 2017 regarding misuse of money.
- Nimisha’s family claims that Mahdi had confiscated her passport. To get it back, he injected Mahdi with anesthesia, but he died due to an overdose.
- In 2018, Nimisha was arrested and convicted of murder.
Judicial process and punishment
- In 2020, the trial court of Sana sentenced Nimisha to death.
- In 2023, Yemen’s Supreme Judicial Council upheld the decision.
- However, the court kept open the option of blood money, in which the victim’s family can agree to pay compensation.
Death penalty and law in Yemen
Yemen’s laws provide for the death penalty for a variety of crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, adultery, and blasphemy against Islam.
Nimisha’s family fight
Family conflict:
- Nimisha’s mother Prema Kumari even sold her property to fight the case.
- He along with Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council started talks with the victim’s family. Blood Money Controversy:
- Talks on blood money with the victim’s family came to a halt in September 2023.
- Abdullah Amir, a lawyer for the Indian Embassy in Yemen, demanded a pre-negotiation fee of $20,000.
- The Ministry of External Affairs had already paid $19,871, but the lawyer insisted on a total fee of $40,000.Resort to crowdfunding:
- Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council starts crowdfunding to raise the first installment of Ameer’s fees.
- However, challenges were faced regarding transparency.
Indian government’s stance
- The Ministry of External Affairs said that it is in constant touch with Priya’s family and concerned parties.
- The Government of India is taking all possible steps to resolve this issue in Yemen.
