Saturday, March 29, 2025
New Delhi – The reports claiming that Indian nurse Nimisha Priya’s death sentence has been revoked in Yemen are false and misleading, says Samuel Jerome, a key member of the Save Nimisha Priya International Action Council working to save her life.
In a recent Facebook post, Jerome stated that Indian media outlets have circulated unverified information and urged journalists to consult the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) before publishing any such claims.
Earlier today, multiple media outlets — including ANI — reported that Nimisha’s capital punishment had been overturned after a high-level meeting in Sana’a. Dr. KA Paul, founder of the Global Peace Initiative, also claimed in a video message from Yemen on July 22 that she could be released soon.
However, Samuel Jerome — who has been coordinating efforts to save Nimisha — contradicted this, stating unequivocally that no such decision has been made. He emphasized that the matter remains legally unresolved and warned against premature or inaccurate reporting.
Nimisha Priya, a Kerala-born nurse, was sentenced to death in Yemen in connection with the murder of a Yemeni national, Abdo Mahdi. Her defense has argued that the act was committed in self-defense following alleged abuse.
A major fundraising effort had been launched to pay “blood money” (diya) to Mahdi’s family in exchange for clemency. Over $58,000 had reportedly been raised for this purpose.
According to reports from Yemen, Samuel Jerome, who had been working closely with Nimisha’s mother Prema Kumari and Yemeni authorities, has now withdrawn from the campaign.
His Facebook post appears to side with Mahdi’s family, causing further confusion among supporters of the campaign.
He was the one who originally invited Nimisha’s mother to Yemen and helped arrange her stay and meetings with local authorities. However, his latest statements have sparked debate and concern among activists.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a clarification today (July 29, 2025), stating that the reports of Nimisha’s sentence being reduced or canceled are false. According to official sources:
“Nimisha Priya’s death sentence remains in place, and the legal process is ongoing. The Indian government continues to provide all possible legal and humanitarian support.”
The ministry also noted that misinformation is being spread on social media, and official confirmation should come only from the MEA or the Yemeni government.
While hopes remain high for clemency or release, there has been no formal revocation of Nimisha Priya’s death sentence in Yemen as of now. Official sources and campaigners urge the public to rely only on verified updates.
