- By Nidhi Giri
- Tue, 31 Dec 2024 01:03 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Nimisha Priya, a 36-year-old Indian nurse from Kerala accused of killing a Yemeni national in 2017, is facing a death sentence in the country. Priya's death sentence was approved by Yemen President Rashad al-Alimi this week, and her execution is scheduled to take place within a month. The case has garnered significant attention in India, with the government extending its support to explore all options to assist her. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the government is aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen.“We understand that the family of Priya is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," he said.
Who is Nimisha Priya?
Nimisha Priya was found guilty of killing Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi and has been in prison since 2017. She was sentenced to death by a trial court in Yemen in 2018 and her family has been fighting for her release since then.
Nimisha Priya's family has sought a "blood money" deal, a compensation arrangement recognised under Yemen's Shariah law to secure her release.
Nimisha Priya reportedly tried to retrieve her passport, which Mahdi had seized, by sedating him with an overdose of drugs. While the intent was reportedly to knock him unconscious, Mahdi died from the overdose. In the aftermath, Priya and her colleague, Yemeni national Hanan, allegedly dismembered Mahdi’s body and disposed of it in a water tank.
Nimisha Priya’s Tragic Story
Nimisha Priya’s journey to Yemen began in 2011, when she moved there to work as a nurse in the capital city, Sana'a. Financial difficulties led her husband and their young daughter to return to India in 2014, and Yemen’s ongoing civil conflict prevented them from reuniting. Priya remained in Yemen, where she later partnered with Mahdi to open a clinic, a legal requirement for foreign nationals in the country.
However, Mahdi's involvement in Priya's life took a dark turn. He manipulated documents to claim that he was married to her, and Priya alleged that he subjected her to physical and emotional abuse, including torture and threats. According to Priya, Mahdi confiscated her passport, demanded money from her clinic, and used drugs to control her. Priya even reported the abuse to local authorities, but rather than taking action against Mahdi, the police arrested her.
In 2017, desperate to retrieve her passport and escape the abusive situation, Nimisha Priya reportedly sought the help of a local jail warden, who suggested using sedatives to incapacitate Mahdi. Unfortunately, the sedative caused an overdose, and Mahdi died, leading to her arrest and subsequent conviction.