India Calls Nimisha Priya Case “Sensitive”, Engages Friendly Nations After Yemen Execution Put on Hold

India on Thursday described the case of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala facing execution in Yemen for the murder of a local national, as a “sensitive matter”, and confirmed that continuous diplomatic outreach is taking place—including engagement with “friendly governments”. The intervention comes after Yemeni authorities postponed Priya’s execution, originally slated for July 16, following intense appeals and negotiations led by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Nimisha Priya, 36, has been on death row in Yemen’s Sana’a Central Prison after being convicted in 2020 for the murder of her business partner, Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017. Her family, lawyers, and activists have argued the killing happened in self-defense under extreme duress and alleged abuse. However, all legal appeals in Yemeni courts, including at the Supreme Court level, have been exhausted, and earlier this year the execution order was ratified by the Houthi-controlled Supreme Political Council.
At the weekly press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed the gravity and complexity of the case. “This is a sensitive matter and the Government of India has been offering all possible assistance. We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer for the family. Regular consular visits have been arranged, and we are in constant touch with both local authorities and the family,” Jaiswal said. He added that recent efforts secured a last-minute postponement of Priya’s execution, giving her family more time to explore a settlement with the victim’s family.
Efforts are now focused on seeking a mutually agreeable resolution, with India maintaining close communication not only with Yemen but also with third-party governments that may influence the ongoing process. “We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance. We are also in touch with some friendly governments,” Jaiswal stated, without naming specific countries involved.
The victim’s family, however, has publicly rejected any compensation or pardon, demanding that the death sentence be carried out. This stance complicates diplomatic and legal efforts, as Yemeni law allows for “blood money” settlements but leaves final discretion with the victim’s family.
Social media in India has erupted in support for Priya, with civil society and political leaders urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention. Hashtags like #SaveNimishaPriya trend on X (formerly Twitter), amplifying the debate over protection of Indian citizens abroad and women’s safety in conflict zones.
Priya, a native of Kerala’s Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 and ran a nursing home partnership with the victim. According to her testimony, she was subjected to ongoing abuse and imprisoned in the country after her husband and daughter returned to Kerala during Yemen’s civil unrest.
She was initially sentenced to death by a local court three years ago. Her appeal was rejected in 2023, and Yemen’s Houthi leadership approved the execution order this January. Diplomatic sources say her situation remains urgent, as the postponement is temporary and the stakes are high.
India has seen other similar high-profile cases involving citizens facing harsh sentences abroad, but the combination of Yemen’s unstable political situation and the nature of the crime make the Priya case especially challenging. The MEA says it will persist with all “possible efforts”—legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian—as Priya’s fate hangs in the balance.