Wed Jan 01 10:33:22 UTC 2025: ## Indian Nurse Facing Execution in Yemen After President Approves Death Sentence
**Sana’a, Yemen/New Delhi, India** – Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence has been approved by Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi, sparking outrage and prompting urgent intervention from the Indian government. Priya, 36, has been imprisoned since 2017 for the murder of a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi. The execution is scheduled for one month from now.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed its awareness of the sentence and stated it is providing all possible assistance to Priya’s family. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been in Sana’a attempting to negotiate blood money with Mahdi’s family to secure her daughter’s release. These negotiations were reportedly stalled in September due to a dispute over lawyer fees.
Priya’s family claims she was wrongly accused. Her appeal to the Yemeni Supreme Court was rejected earlier this year. According to Priya’s plea, Mahdi, who initially assisted her in setting up a clinic, later embezzled funds, physically abused her, and seized her passport. She alleges she reported the abuse to police but was herself arrested.
The case has highlighted the complexities of navigating the Yemeni legal system and the challenges faced by Indian citizens abroad in similar situations. The MEA’s efforts to secure Priya’s release are ongoing, but the looming execution deadline adds significant pressure to the situation. The Indian government has already provided funds to Priya’s legal team, but transparency issues related to the disbursement of these funds have reportedly emerged. The focus now shifts to securing the forgiveness of Mahdi’s family and potentially raising the necessary blood money to avoid the execution.
First Piper 