MEA Denies Reports of Death Sentence Reversal in Nimisha Priya Case

India Denies Rumored Breakthrough in Yemen Death Sentence Case of Nurse Nimisha Priya

The Ministry of External Affairs has officially denied circulating rumors claiming a breakthrough in the case of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse currently on death row in Yemen. Unverified reports had sparked premature hope among supporters by suggesting her death sentence for the 2017 killing of a Yemeni national had been commuted.

In a clear statement issued today, an MEA spokesperson addressed the speculation, stating, "The Government of India remains deeply committed to providing all possible consular assistance to Nimisha Priya. However, certain reports circulating regarding a resolution in her case are incorrect. Our efforts, in coordination with her legal team, are ongoing."

This clarification underscores the complex and sensitive nature of the case, which has drawn significant attention from human rights activists and has been a source of anguish for Priya's family for years. The primary hope for averting the sentence lies in negotiating a "blood money" agreement, or diyya, under which the victim's family would accept financial compensation and grant a pardon.

Priya's defense maintains that the death of Talal Abdo Mahdi was not premeditated murder but a tragic accident. They argue she injected him with sedatives in a desperate attempt to retrieve her passport, which he allegedly held to keep her in forced captivity. Her legal team and the "Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council" continue their difficult efforts to secure this pardon from the victim's family, a process fraught with diplomatic and emotional challenges.

The MEA's denial confirms that these delicate negotiations remain ongoing and that a resolution has not yet been reached. The ministry reiterated that the Indian Embassy continues to provide active support to Priya and her legal representatives. For her family in Kerala, the news represents another emotional setback in a long and painful waiting game, as they continue to plead for a compassionate resolution that would spare her life.