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Arab Times
13 hours ago
- Arab Times
Indian nurse's death sentence in Yemen not overturned: sources
NEW DELHI, July 29: Contrary to earlier reports, the death sentence of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has not been overturned, according to sources cited by news agency ANI on Tuesday. 'Information being shared by certain individuals on the Nimisha Priya case is inaccurate,' the sources said, refuting claims that the Yemeni authorities had cancelled her capital punishment. The clarification came shortly after a statement from the office of the Indian Grand Mufti claimed that the death sentence had been revoked following a high-level meeting in Sanaa. "The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned," the Mufti's office said earlier, suggesting that a decision had been made to cancel the suspended sentence entirely. However, sources familiar with the matter dismissed this account, asserting that no such formal cancellation has been confirmed by Yemeni authorities. Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, had moved to Yemen in 2008 in pursuit of better employment opportunities. In 2015, she entered into a partnership with a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, to establish a medical clinic—an arrangement necessitated by Yemeni laws prohibiting foreign ownership of businesses. What began as a professional collaboration, however, soon turned into a harrowing ordeal. According to Priya's family, Mahdi used a doctored wedding photograph taken during a trip to India to falsely claim he was married to her. He then reportedly took over the clinic, seized her earnings, and subjected her to ongoing abuse — ranging from physical assault and drug-induced attacks to the confiscation of her passport to restrict her movements. Her attempts to seek help allegedly led to her being briefly jailed, rather than being protected by law enforcement. Desperate to escape, Nimisha reportedly attempted to sedate Mahdi to retrieve her passport. However, the dosage proved fatal, leading to his death by overdose. She was subsequently arrested and convicted of murder, receiving a death sentence under Yemeni law. The case has drawn widespread attention in India and abroad, with human rights advocates and government representatives seeking diplomatic avenues for clemency. Although her sentence had previously been suspended, hopes that it would be overturned appear premature based on the latest clarifications from official sources.
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Business Standard
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Has Yemen cancelled Nimisha Priya's death sentence? Here's what we know
No official statement has been issued confirming the overturning of the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, government sources said on Tuesday. This comes after a report by news agency ANI claimed that Priya's execution had been overturned and completely cancelled, citing the office of 'Grand Mufti' Kanhapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar. According to the report, the Grand Mufti's office made the statement on July 28, following a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Her execution had previously been suspended after diplomatic efforts by the Indian government and an appeal by the Grand Mufti. Nimisha's execution, originally scheduled for July 16, was temporarily halted just a day earlier after Musliyar urged Yemeni authorities to reconsider. Execution delayed after diplomatic efforts The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had been actively engaged in efforts to save Nimisha. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a lawyer had been appointed to assist her family and that the government had been exploring options for clemency under Sharia law. These efforts gained urgency after Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld her death sentence in November 2023. The latest development represents a major breakthrough in the campaign to secure her release. Nimisha was convicted in the killing of her business partner, Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. Musliyar reportedly engaged in extensive talks with Yemeni religious authorities, calling for the release of the 37-year-old nurse. His last-minute intervention, supported by a prominent Yemeni Sufi scholar, is believed to have been instrumental in stopping her execution. Who is Nimisha Priya? Nimisha Priya, 37, is a trained nurse from Kerala who worked in private hospitals across Yemen for several years. In 2014, her husband and young daughter returned to India due to financial hardship. That same year, Yemen's civil war began, and the country suspended the issue of new visas, making it impossible for her family to return. Setting up a clinic in Sanaa In 2015, Nimisha established a clinic in Sanaa with the assistance of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen. Since Yemeni law prohibits foreign nationals from owning clinics, Mahdi was made a legal partner. However, during a visit to Kerala, Mahdi allegedly stole a wedding photograph of Nimisha and used it to falsely claim they were married. According to her mother's statement, Mahdi then began harassing her. Allegations of abuse and fraud Mahdi reportedly forged clinic ownership documents and took control of Nimisha's finances. He is also accused of seizing her passport, drugging her, threatening her with a firearm, and physically abusing her over a prolonged period. When she approached local police, Nimisha was instead arrested and jailed for six days. Upon her release, the abuse reportedly escalated. In July 2017, Nimisha sought help from a jail warden. Following his advice, she attempted to sedate Mahdi in order to retrieve her passport and escape the country. The first attempt failed, but during the second, Mahdi — reportedly a drug user — died from an overdose. Conviction and sentencing In June 2018, Nimisha was convicted of Mahdi's murder and sentenced to death. Her appeal was rejected in 2023. Her execution was scheduled for July 2025 before India's diplomatic and religious intervention led to its postponement.
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Business Standard
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Yemen 'cancels' Nimisha Priya's death sentence: All you need to know
After years in prison and a last-minute intervention, Nimisha Priya's execution originally scheduled for July 16, has been cancelled in Yemen The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala convicted of murder in Yemen, has been overturned and 'completely cancelled.' The announcement came on July 28 from the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanhapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar. The decision followed a high-level meeting in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Her execution had previously been suspended after diplomatic efforts by the Indian government and an appeal by the Grand Mufti. The cancellation is now official, according to a report by ANI. Nimisha's execution, originally scheduled for July 16, was temporarily halted just a day prior after Musliyar urged Yemeni authorities to reconsider. Execution delayed after diplomatic efforts The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had been actively engaged in efforts to save Nimisha. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that a lawyer had been appointed to assist her family and that the government had been exploring options for clemency under Sharia law. Nimisha was convicted in the killing of her business partner, Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017. Musliyar reportedly engaged in extensive talks with Yemeni religious authorities, calling for the release of the 37-year-old nurse. His last-minute intervention, supported by a prominent Yemeni Sufi scholar, is believed to have been instrumental in stopping her execution. Who is Nimisha Priya? Nimisha Priya, 37, is a trained nurse from Kerala who worked in private hospitals across Yemen for several years. In 2014, her husband and young daughter returned to India due to financial hardship. That same year, Yemen's civil war began, and the country suspended the issue of new visas, making it impossible for her family to return. Setting up a clinic in Sanaa In 2015, Nimisha established a clinic in Sanaa with the assistance of Talal Abdo Mahdi, a Yemeni citizen. Since Yemeni law prohibits foreign nationals from owning clinics, Mahdi was made a legal partner. However, during a visit to Kerala, Mahdi allegedly stole a wedding photograph of Nimisha and used it to falsely claim they were married. According to her mother's statement, Mahdi then began harassing her. Allegations of abuse and fraud Mahdi reportedly forged clinic ownership documents and took control of Nimisha's finances. He is also accused of seizing her passport, drugging her, threatening her with a firearm, and physically abusing her over a prolonged period. When she approached local police, Nimisha was instead arrested and jailed for six days. Upon her release, the abuse reportedly escalated. In July 2017, Nimisha sought help from a jail warden. Following his advice, she attempted to sedate Mahdi in order to retrieve her passport and escape the country. The first attempt failed, but during the second, Mahdi — reportedly a drug user — died from an overdose. Conviction and sentencing In June 2018, Nimisha was convicted of Mahdi's murder and sentenced to death. Her appeal was rejected in 2023. Her execution was scheduled for July 2025 before India's diplomatic and religious intervention led to its postponement — and now, its complete cancellation.
India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Nimisha Priya's death sentence cancelled in Yemen: Grand Mufti's office
The death sentence of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya has been completely overturned by authorities in Yemen, according to a statement from the office of the Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar.'The death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned,' the office said in a statement. 'A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier,' Musliyar's office said as quoted by news agency the Grand Mufti's office noted that it has not yet received official written confirmation from the Yemeni government, and the Union Ministry of External Affairs is also yet to confirm the development. WHAT LED TO NIMISHA PRIYA'S SENTENCE? Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala's Palakkad district, moved to Yemen in 2008 in search of better employment opportunities. A member of a Christian family, she later entered into a business partnership with a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, and the two went on to open a clinic in the capital, relationship reportedly soured after Mahdi began harassing her and publicly claimed to be her husband. He also allegedly confiscated her passport, restricting her movement and ability to return to to Yemeni authorities, Priya attempted to retrieve her passport in 2017 by sedating Mahdi. The incident turned fatal when he died from a suspected drug overdose. She was arrested, tried, and convicted of murder in case has drawn international attention for years. She was sentenced to death by a Yemeni court in 2020. Efforts to save her intensified over the past few months after Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi approved her execution in December 2024. The matter escalated when Houthi leader Mahdi al-Mashat gave his approval for the same in January 2025. However, her execution was postponed, following "concerted efforts" by the Government of India.- EndsWith inputs from ANIMust Watch
Yemen Online
a day ago
- Yemen Online
Nimisha Priya's Death Sentence Overturned After High-Level Talks In Yemen, Says Grand Mufti Of India's Office
The office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobakr Musliyar announced that Nimisha Priya's death sentence has been overturned, marking a major breakthrough in the high-profile case. While the announcement signals a significant development, the office clarified that official written confirmation from Yemeni authorities is still awaited. The decision came after a high-level meeting in Sanaa, Yemen, where senior Yemeni scholars, appointed by Sheikh Umar Hafeel Thangal at the behest of the Indian Grand Mufti, held mediation talks with Northern Yemeni rulers and international diplomats. The meeting concluded with the complete cancellation of Nimisha Priya's death sentence, which had previously been scheduled for execution on July 16 but was temporarily suspended. According to a News18 report, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musliyar confirmed that several key decisions regarding the case have already been taken. However, further deliberations are expected, particularly on unresolved matters, including a final settlement with the family of the murdered Yemeni national, Talal, which will be addressed through continued discussions. Who Is Nimisha Priya And What Is The Case? Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2008 in search of better employment opportunities, driven by financial responsibilities at home. She began working at a private hospital in the capital city, Sana'a. In 2015, she entered into a business partnership with a Yemeni citizen named Mahdi to run a medical clinic. Since Yemeni law bars foreign nationals from independently owning such facilities, Mahdi's name was required for official purposes. However, Nimisha later alleged that the relationship became abusive. According to her and her supporters, Mahdi confiscated her passport, misappropriated clinic funds, subjected her to physical abuse, and severely restricted her movements. In July 2017, in an attempt to recover her passport, Nimisha injected Mahdi with sedatives. The dosage proved fatal. In panic, she and a colleague dismembered his body and concealed the remains in a water tank. She was arrested at a border checkpoint in August 2017. In 2018, a Yemeni criminal court sentenced her to death, citing unauthorised drug use, intentional killing, and efforts to hide the crime as evidence of premeditation. Her appeals were subsequently rejected, and in November 2023, Yemen's Supreme Judicial Council upheld the sentence. With the Houthi regime now in charge of judicial processes, her execution was scheduled for July 16, 2025.
