Nimisha Priya case: MEA citing security constraints rejects request for delegation to Yemen
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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs has reportedly turned down a proposal from the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council seeking permission for a five-member team to travel to Yemen in an effort to secure the release of Nimisha Priya, the Indian nurse currently on death row in that country.
According to official communication from the MEA, the request was denied due to a range of factors, including serious safety risks and the lack of formal diplomatic engagement with the authorities based in Sana’a.
The ministry also referred to a recent Supreme Court directive, which emphasised that any negotiations in the matter must take place exclusively between Priya’s family and the victim’s family.
The MEA noted that the Indian Embassy in Yemen has been relocated to Riyadh in light of ongoing unrest in the region. Citing the precarious security situation in Sana’a and heightened regional tensions, the ministry expressed concern for the safety of any visiting delegation, TNIE reported.
The MEA has reiterated that India cannot engage directly with the Houthi administration currently in control of Sana’a, as New Delhi lacks official diplomatic relations with them.
This constraint further complicates the situation surrounding Nimisha Priya, a 38-year-old nurse from Kerala who has been in prison since her 2017 conviction for allegedly killing a Yemeni national.
Although her execution had been scheduled for July 16, it was delayed following intervention by Indian authorities. The MEA stressed that the safety of Indian citizens remains a core priority and assured that the government is doing everything within its means to assist in the case.
Officials also clarified that, as per the Supreme Court’s directive, any negotiations regarding Priya’s fate must be carried out by her family or their legally authorised representatives. While public support for her release continues to grow, the government’s stance highlights the diplomatic and legal complications of intervening in a conflict-affected region like Yemen.
