New Delhi: The Ministry on External Affairs on Tuesday dismissed claims that Nimisha Priya’s death sentence in Yemen had been overturned, according to media reports.

According to ANI, quoting official sources, the information being circulated by certain groups about a reprieve in the case is “inaccurate” and does not reflect the current reality on the ground. Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse, is facing the death penalty in Yemen in connection with a murder conviction.

Recently, the office of Indian Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Abubakker Musliyar issued a statement claiming that “the death sentence of Nimisha Priya, which was previously suspended, has been overturned. A high-level meeting held in Sanaa decided to completely cancel the death sentence that was temporarily suspended earlier.”

However, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reiterated that the matter is still under active diplomatic and legal engagement. During a press briefing on July 17, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed the sensitivity of the situation and confirmed that India is doing everything possible to assist Priya and her family.

“This is a very sensitive matter, and the government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case. We have provided legal assistance and also appointed a lawyer to assist the family. We have also arranged for regular consular visits by her family, and we are also in touch with the local authorities, as well as the family members, to resolve this issue. This included concerted efforts in the recent few days to seek more time for the family of Nimisha Priya to reach a mutually agreeable solution with the other party. The local authorities in Yemen have postponed the carrying out of her sentence that was scheduled for July 16,” Jaiswal said.

The MEA has designated legal counsel to work closely with Priya’s family and explore legal avenues available under Yemen’s Sharia-based judicial system, including possibilities for clemency or pardon.

Nimisha Priya’s execution, originally scheduled for July 16, had been temporarily halted after the intervention of Kanthapuram AP Aboobakr Musliyar. At that time, he had also called for diplomatic representatives appointed by the Indian government to participate in the next phase of negotiations. However, the central government had previously rejected that proposal.

India has also ensured continued consular access to Priya, facilitating regular visits by her family and maintaining communication with Yemeni authorities.

Jaiswal further added, “We continue to closely follow the matter and render all possible assistance in the case. We are also in touch with some friendly governments in this regard.”

The case

Nimisha Priya, a trained nurse, had been working in private hospitals in Yemen for several years. In 2014, her husband and young daughter returned to India due to financial difficulties. That same year, as Yemen descended into civil war, the country stopped issuing new visas, preventing their return.

In 2015, Nimisha partnered with a Yemeni national, Talal Abdo Mahdi, to establish a clinic in Sanaa. As Yemeni law restricts clinic ownership to its citizens, Mahdi’s involvement was necessary for the business to legally operate. During a visit to Kerala with Nimisha that year, Mahdi reportedly stole her wedding photograph and later used it to fabricate claims of being married to her.

A petition filed by Nimisha’s mother revealed that once the clinic became functional, Mahdi allegedly altered ownership documents and took control of her earnings, presenting himself as her husband. He reportedly subjected Nimisha and her family to prolonged harassment and seized her passport to prevent her from leaving Yemen. The plea further accused Mahdi of drugging and physically abusing her, often threatening her life at gunpoint, and confiscating her personal belongings, including jewellery and money from the clinic.

When Nimisha sought police help, she was arrested and jailed for six days instead of receiving protection. Upon her release, the abuse intensified. In July 2017, desperate to escape, she confided in a local prison warden near her clinic, who advised her to sedate Mahdi and try retrieving her passport.

Nimisha attempted to drug Mahdi, but the first dose failed, possibly due to his substance abuse. A second, stronger dose was administered in another attempt—this time resulting in Mahdi’s death due to a drug overdose.

(With inputs from ANI)