
Why bringing back Nimisha Priya, Kerala nurse on death row in Yemen, is a diplomatic rigmarole
Priya has been in prison in Yemen's capital Sana'a since 2017, convicted of killing her business partner. Sana'a is governed by the separatist organisation—Ansar Allah—also known as the Houthis. India does not recognise nor maintain ties with the Iran-backed movement that has controlled Sana'a since 2014. Rather it recognises the government operating in the port city of Aden to the South, which is recognised internationally as the regime in-charge of Yemen.
New Delhi: The complexities of Yemen—a fractured nation, in the midst of a civil war for over a decade, with rival regional powers jockeying for influence, combined with a lack of diplomatic representation from New Delhi—are all playing a role in the fate of Nimisha Priya, the Kerala-born nurse on death row in the West Asian nation.
Born in Kerala's Palakkad district, Nimisha moved to Yemen in 2008 for work. Three years later, she married Tomy Thomas and the two moved back to Yemen and continued working in the West Asian nation. However, by early 2012, Yemen witnessed a major political change due to the impact of the Arab Spring, with its long-time leader Ali Abdullah Saleh lost his grip on power, after 22 years in control of Sana'a.
Within two years, the Houthis, from the North of the country, swept across Yemen, capturing Sana'a and dislodging Saleh's successor Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi from the city. It was around this time that Priya decided to open her own clinic in the West Asian nation.
For a foreigner to operate a business in Yemen, the law requires a local partner. Mahdi entered the situation, even though Priya eventually opened the clinic with her former boss Abdul Lateef, according to media reports.
But Mahdi managed to become a shareholder, and allegedly created documents to show that Priya was his wife, and even took away her passport. Facing torture at the hands of Mahdi, Priya eventually decided to sedate him, retrieve her documents and leave the country, according to reports. However, Mahdi died and Priya was arrested attempting to flee the country.
In 2020, Nimisha Priya was sentenced to death, which was upheld in 2023 by the Supreme Judicial Council. In April 2024, Premakumari, Nimisha Priya's mother finally travelled to Yemen and met her daughter in prison in Sana'a.
There were negotiations over the payment of blood money between Mahdi's family and Priya's family. However, by September 2024 the negotiations were said to have hit a roadblock.
Prominent businesspersons from Kerala including M.A. Yussuff Ali of the LuLu Group and Bobby Chemmanur have offered up to Rs 1 crore each for any potential settlement leading to the release of Priya. The efforts are being coordinated by the 'Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council'.
Last week, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed that New Delhi has been in touch with the 'local authorities'—the Houthis—in Sana'a as it continues to diplomatically seek her release.
The only other option for Priya's release is the payment of 'diyah' or blood money to the family of the murdered Yemeni national Talal Abdo Mahdi.
Also read: Setback for efforts to save Nimisha Priya from execution in Yemen as victim's family refuses pardon
The situation in Yemen
Since September 2014, Yemen has been fractured by a civil war fought primarily between the internationally recognised government, currently led by Rashad al-Alimi, and the Houthis. The Houthis are known currently for their efforts to disrupt trade through the Red Sea, in response to Israel's military actions in the Gaza strip.
The civil war in Yemen has regional implications, with Saudi Arabia leading a coalition to dislodge the Houthis from power. Iran, however, supports the Houthis, a Shi'ite revivalist movement, with a history of rising up against the Sunnis in power in the country. Yemen became the latest flash point for the proxy struggle between Riyadh and Tehran for control over West Asia.
In April 2015, after evacuating its citizens from Yemen, New Delhi shut down its mission in the West Asian nation, with all issues with regards to the country handled through its embassy in Riyadh. Furthermore, India has no official ties with Ansar Allah, which has been in control of Sana'a, where Nimisha Priya has been imprisoned since 2018.
In January 2025, Iran offered its assistance to India for the release of Priya. Last week, however, a source in the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi pointed to the current situation in West Asia, which has led to Tehran's inability to be involved in the diplomatic process to see Priya's return.
When Priya first moved to Yemen in 2008, the country had been under the control of Ali Abdullah Saleh for over 18 years. Saleh, born in 1946, in a town outside Sana'a, rose through the ranks in the military of North Yemen.
The country, which was divided between Monarchists and Republicans, was led by a number of military juntas, till Saleh arrived in the political scene in 1978. For the next 12 years, the Yemeni strongman consolidated power and led the country's reunification with the Communist South Yemen in 1990, following the collapse of the USSR.
Saleh remained in power for the next 22 years, until the effects of the Arab Spring led to his downfall in 2012. He was replaced by his long-standing vice-president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. In September 2014, the Ansar Allah occupied Sana'a, demanding lower fuel prices and the formation of a new government. The rebel movement swept South from its stronghold in the North and within months had captured Sana'a.
Hadi and the Houthis engaged in fraught negotiations to find a political agreement. However, this failed in January 2015, Hadi resigned and fled Yemen for Saudi Arabia. In February of that year, Hadi rescinded his resignation and a month later Saudi Arabia along with a coalition of Gulf states began their war in Yemen to dislodge the Houthis through both economic isolation and air strikes along with logistical support from the US.
The Houthis during the initial stages received support from Saleh, as well as military aid from Tehran. The movement soon controlled territory consisting roughly 70 percent of the population, according to some estimates. The proxy war continued for years, with the frontlines largely stabilising following the Saudi-led intervention, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Eventually the Hadi government stabilised its control over Aden, while the Houthis held Sana'a and large swathes of North and North-Western Yemen. Eventually in 2022 a ceasefire was agreed to by both parties, which has been maintained since. Hadi resigned in 2022 after a decade in power, leading to a Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) consisting of eight members and led by al-Alimi. The PLC is the internationally recognised regime, and operates out of Aden.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
Also read: Day before her execution, a ray of hope for Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India signs up for 3-day UN meet for peaceful Palestine
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City. (Pic credit: AP) NEW DELHI: India is expected to participate in the upcoming UN high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine question and the implementation of the two-state solution, amid renewed international efforts to end the war in Gaza. According to the list of delegates, 123 countries and agencies, including India, have signed up for the three-day meeting beginning Monday. The conference will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, both of which are key strategic partners for India. India had earlier voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that called for an international summit in June 2025 to discuss the two-state solution. However, the summit had to be postponed due to the Iran-Israel conflict. US had last month warned countries against participating in the conference, arguing it could undermine ongoing efforts to end the war and secure the release of hostages, according to a diplomatic cable seen and reported by Reuters from Paris and Washington. According to France, the aim of the conference is to chart a path towards the two-state solution through "concrete measures" proposed by eight working groups. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Guapo: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo These groups have conducted wide-ranging consultations with UN member states and civil society actors. The conference has drawn global attention, especially following French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognise Palestine as a state-making it the first G7 country to do so. The US has condemned France's move and will boycott the conference, along with Israel. India's permanent representative to the UN, P Harish, acknowledged the conference during a recent Security Council session on the Palestinian question. "While engaging in a forward-leaning and constructive manner, it is our hope that this conference would pave the way for concrete steps towards achieving a two-state solution," Harish said, while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages. India, which was among 19 countries that abstained from a UNGA vote in June calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, has been in regular contact with the working groups and is expected to offer further inputs during the conference. The level of India's representation at the conference is still being finalised. On Gaza issue, India continues to balance its growing strategic partnership with Israel and its long-standing support for Palestinian cause. "India shares historic and strong ties with Palestinian brothers and sisters. We've stood by them and our commitment towards Palestinian cause is unwavering," Harish said. MEA also reiterated in Parliament on Friday that India remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution, leading to a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine living in peace with Israel within secure and recognised borders.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Congress slams govt for ‘institutional sabotage' over Justice Yashwant Varma impeachment
New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday accused the government of " institutional sabotage " for refusing to admit the Opposition-backed impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma in the Rajya Sabha , while proceeding with a similar motion in the Lok Sabha signed by both ruling and Opposition MPs. Senior Congress leader and lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said the Centre had ignored former RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar's move to make the Opposition motion "property of the House" before his resignation. He warned that the government's conduct could give Justice Varma procedural grounds to challenge the impeachment. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Operations Management Product Management healthcare PGDM Finance Public Policy Leadership Healthcare others Data Science CXO Technology Degree Digital Marketing Management MBA Data Analytics Data Science MCA Project Management Cybersecurity Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Others Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details Rejecting Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju 's claim that the RS motion was never admitted, Singhvi asked: "Didn't Chairman Dhankhar, by his words, make the issue property of the House? If not, why did he consult the law minister on introducing similar motions in both Houses?" by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Want to know more? click here Undo Singhvi said instead of appreciating bipartisan cooperation on Justice Varma's impeachment, the ruling party was treating it as "a race to show who did it first," displaying "ego and invincibility notions." He also linked the episode to Dhankhar's abrupt resignation, questioning if he was forced out and if MPs were pressured to sign additional papers. Singhvi added that the Congress had first raised corruption allegations in the Varma case, while the BJP was silent. Live Events Singhvi further alleged double standards, pointing to the government's inaction on a pending impeachment notice against Justice Shekhar Yadav over hate speech. He said the AICC legal department would hold a conference on August 2 on challenges to the Constitution.


News18
3 hours ago
- News18
'Don't Confirm Participation In Indian Events': Pakistan Sports Board To Federations
Last Updated: All national sports federations have to seek clearance from the PSB before making any commitment, promise, or announcement about participation in competitions hosted on Indian soil In a significant move reflecting the strained political climate between the two nations, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has issued a stern directive to all its national sports federations: do not confirm participation in any event in India without explicit prior consultation and approval from the board. This decision, formalised during the 34th meeting of the PSB on July 23, comes amid what the board terms 'prevailing security concerns" and 'regional sensitivities". The directive, issued via a circular, makes it mandatory for all national sports federations to seek clearance from the PSB before making any commitment, promise, or announcement regarding participation in competitions hosted on Indian soil. The decision arrives in the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, notably following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed 26 civilian lives. India has held Pakistan-backed terrorists responsible for the incident, while Islamabad has vehemently denied the accusations. This led to a series of diplomatic measures and a brief military conflict in May, although a ceasefire was later announced after Pakistan reached out for talks. The immediate impact of this directive is evident in several upcoming sporting events. Pakistan's national men's hockey team had already withdrawn from the Men's Hockey Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Rajgir, India, from August 27 to September 7, citing 'serious security threats". There are also reports that Pakistan will not participate in the Junior World Cup in India in November. Furthermore, the issue of Indian and Pakistani teams playing against each other in multi-nation tournaments continues to be a point of contention. While bilateral series remain suspended since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, events like the Asia Cup cricket tournament are now being moved to neutral venues, with the 2025 edition set for the UAE in September, as confirmed by the Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.