NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — The claim that Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence in Yemen has been canceled remains unconfirmed by Indian authorities or her family, despite a public statement made by Evangelist Dr. K.A. Paul.
Dr. Paul, founder of the Global Peace Initiative, released a video message from Sanaa, Yemen, on Tuesday, saying the execution of Nimisha Priya had been halted. He credited efforts by both Yemeni and Indian leaders for the claimed development.
“I want to thank all the leaders that is involved in making this a great success that Nimisha Priya’s death has been cancelled,” Dr. Paul said in the video. “By God’s grace, she will be released and taken to India.”
However, there has been no official confirmation of this claim. India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Priya’s family have not verified the news. Times Now reported that Tomy Thomas, Priya’s husband, had not received any communication regarding the cancellation of the sentence.
The MEA responded to the developments during its weekly press briefing last week. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that India is in contact with Yemeni authorities and friendly nations to find a mutually agreeable solution.
“This is a sensitive matter and the government of India has been offering all possible assistance in the case,” Jaiswal said on July 17. “We have provided legal assistance and appointed a lawyer to assist the family.”
He added that India had arranged regular consular visits and has been in constant touch with Yemeni authorities to delay the execution. As a result of these efforts, the Yemeni government postponed Priya’s execution, which was scheduled for July 16.
On July 18, the Indian government informed the Supreme Court that it is doing “whatever is utmost possible” to bring Priya back home safely. The case is set for its next hearing on August 14.
Priya’s legal team is reportedly working on securing clemency or a pardon under Yemeni Sharia law. The Indian government continues to explore all diplomatic and legal options.
Nimisha Priya is a 38-year-old nurse from Kollengode in Kerala’s Palakkad district. She was convicted in 2017 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner. In 2020, a court in Yemen sentenced her to death. Her final appeal was rejected by the Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023.
The incident occurred in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen, which is currently controlled by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The complex political situation has made negotiations challenging. India and Yemen do not currently have formal diplomatic relations due to the ongoing civil war in the region.
Priya’s mother, Premakumari, traveled to Yemen last year to plead for her daughter’s release. A Sunni cleric from Kerala also contacted Yemeni religious leaders seeking intervention. Despite these efforts, no agreement has been reached with the victim’s family—a key requirement for clemency under Sharia law.
Dr. Paul claimed that he and others are now working on logistical arrangements for Priya’s release. He said she may be transferred through Oman, Jeddah, Egypt, Iran, or Türkiye with the help of Indian authorities.
Despite Dr. Paul’s optimism, the Indian government has made no formal announcement confirming the cancellation of the death sentence. The MEA continues to emphasize that the case is highly sensitive and that all developments must be verified through official channels.
As of now, Priya remains in custody in Sanaa, and her future depends on ongoing negotiations and diplomatic efforts. Until Indian officials confirm Dr. Paul’s claims, uncertainty surrounds the case.
