Yemen Denies Sanctioning Death Sentence For Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya, Says Houthis In Control

The Embassy of the Republic of Yemen has denied claims that President Dr Rashid Al-Alimi has ratified the death sentence for Malayali nurse Nimisha Priya.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Embassy addressed recent reports regarding the case of Nimisha Priya, who is on death row at the Central Prison in Yemen's capital, Sanaa.

The Yemeni government clarified that the case has been managed entirely by the Houthi militias and, as such, His Excellency Dr Rashid Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Republic of Yemen, has not ratified the judgment.

The case involves Nimisha Priya, a native of Palakkad, who was imprisoned for the alleged murder of Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mehdi in July 2017. She was sentenced to death by a trial court in Sanaa in 2020, and Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council dismissed her appeal in November 2023 while keeping the option of paying blood money open.

On December 31, 2024, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that the government is providing full support to Nimisha Priya.

"We are aware of the sentencing of Nimisha Priya in Yemen. We understand that her family is exploring relevant options. The government is extending all possible help in the matter," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.