Indian government denies cancellation of nurse's death sentence in Yemen
- In 2020, Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death for murdering her business partner in Yemen.
- Negotiations led by a Muslim cleric initially suspended her execution, raising hopes of a reprieve.
- The Indian government denied claims that her execution had been revoked, stating they had limited options to intervene.
In Yemen, Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse from Kerala, has been sentenced to death for the murder of her Yemeni business partner, Talal Abdo Mehdi, after a botched attempt to retrieve her passport in 2020. Following her conviction, Priya's execution was initially scheduled for July 16, 2023, but was suspended to allow for negotiations led by a prominent Indian Muslim cleric, Kanthapuram AP Aboobakr Musliyar. Reports from the cleric's office suggested that the execution was revoked after discussions with Yemeni authorities. However, the Indian government countered those claims, asserting that Priya's execution remained unchanged. Despite India having limited diplomatic relations with Yemen, Priya's case has garnered significant attention, highlighting the complexities of international law and human rights issues pertaining to foreign nationals. Priya's detention since 2017 and her family's ongoing efforts to advocate for her life add further layers to the case, with her mother in Yemen trying to avert the execution. The impending death sentence reflects Yemen's strict legal penalties for murder and the challenges faced by foreign individuals caught in the judicial system of a country where they conduct business.