New Delhi:
In a significant diplomatic gesture, Iran has offered to intervene on humanitarian grounds in the case of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala’s Palakkad district who is currently on death row in Yemen. This development comes after Yemen’s President Rashad al-Alimi approved Priya’s death sentence on December 30, 2024, with the execution expected to take place within a month.
A senior Iranian official, speaking in New Delhi, emphasized Iran’s commitment to helping Priya. “We will take up the issue of this nurse; we will do whatever we can on humanitarian grounds,” the official stated. This offer underscores Iran’s influence in the region and its willingness to engage in humanitarian efforts.
Nimisha Priya, 37, was convicted of murdering Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen, in July 2017. According to reports, Priya administered sedatives to Mahdi in an attempt to retrieve her passport, which he had confiscated, leading to his death from an overdose. She was subsequently arrested, tried, and sentenced to death by a trial court in 2020. The Yemeni Supreme Judicial Council upheld this verdict in November 2023.
Priya’s case has garnered significant attention due to allegations of abuse and exploitation she suffered at the hands of Mahdi. She had opened a clinic in Sana’a with Mahdi’s support, but their partnership turned sour, with Mahdi allegedly withholding clinic earnings, creating false documents, and physically and emotionally abusing her.
The Indian government has been actively involved in Priya’s case, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirming that it is extending all possible help. “We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. The family is exploring relevant options, and the government is extending all possible help in the matter,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Priya’s mother, Prema Kumari, who is currently in Sana’a, has made an emotional appeal to the Indian government to save her daughter’s life. In a video message, she urged immediate intervention, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The possibility of securing Priya’s release through “blood money” negotiations remains, although these efforts have been complicated by a lawyer’s demand for an advance payment of USD 40,000. Despite these challenges, the involvement of Iran and continued diplomatic efforts by India offer a glimmer of hope for Priya’s case.
