New Delhi: The Embassy of Yemen in New Delhi has denied media reports that claimed President Rashid Al-Alimi has approved the execution order for Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse sentenced to death in Yemen for murder.
The Embassy said in a statement on Monday that the case of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya falls under the jurisdiction of the Houthi authorities in Sanaa, and does not have the approval of Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council.
The clarification came after reports said that President Al-Alimi had upheld the execution order late last month.
On December 31, the Indian government had said it is extending all help in the matter of Nimisha Priya.
The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement:
“We are aware of the sentencing of Ms. Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that the family of Ms. Priya is exploring relevant options.
“The government is extending all possible help in the matter.”
Nimisha Priya, 37, is currently in jail in the Houthi-held capital city of Sana'a.
The nurse, who hails from Kollengode in the Palakkad district in Kerala, is on death row in Yemen after being convicted of murdering a Yemeni man, Talal Abdo Mehdi, in 2017.
Nimisha Priya’s release depended on securing forgiveness from the family of the victim, Talal Abdo Mehdi, and their tribal leaders. Her mother, Prema Kumari, has been living in Sana’a to try and secure a waiver of the death penalty and negotiate the blood money with the victim’s family.
Efforts to release Nimisha by providing blood money failed to yield any results.
The potential for a diplomatic resolution gained traction when Iran offered to mediate in the matter.
During a diplomatic visit to India last week, Takht Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed Tehran's willingness to intervene on humanitarian grounds. “On humanitarian grounds, we are willing to do whatever we can to help mediate the situation,” Ravanchi is quoted as having told reporters.
