NEW DELHI – India said again on Friday that it would do “all possible assistance” in the complicated situation of Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse who is still on death sentence in Yemen. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that it is working with “some friendly governments” to find a solution.
In July 2017, Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old woman from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district, was convicted guilty of killing a Yemeni citizen named Talal Abdo Mahdi. She was supposed to be put to death on July 16, 2025, but Indian officials and diplomats stepped in just in time to stop it. She is now in jail in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, which is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
“We are still keeping a close eye on the situation and doing everything we can to help.” Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for the MEA, said during his weekly press conference, “We are also in touch with some friendly governments about the issue.”
Jaiswal used the chance to warn against reporting that is based on speculation and misinformation about the delicate matter. “I want to say again that this is a sensitive and complicated case.” “Media reports that are based on false information and guesswork are the least helpful, and we would ask everyone to keep this in mind,” he said.
Some news agencies said that Priya’s death sentence had been thrown aside and that an agreement had already been made for her release. His statements were in response to these claims. Jaiswal strongly denied these charges, saying, “These reports are not true.” This is a delicate issue, and we ask everyone to stay away from false information.
He said again that the government of India has been doing everything it can to help with the case: “As I told you before, this is a sensitive matter.” Because of our hard work, the local authorities in Yemen have put off carrying out her punishment.
In 2020, a Yemeni court sentenced Nimisha Priya to death, starting a long legal battle. In November 2023, the country’s Supreme Judicial Council turned down her appeal, leaving her with no more legal options in Yemen’s court system.
Because of the ongoing conflict and security situation, India does not have a diplomatic representation in Yemen right now. However, diplomats from the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia have been working hard to check into the situation and coordinate efforts to help Nimisha Priya with legal and consular issues. The Indian government is still very interested in the issue and is looking into all possible ways to get her released or given mercy.