No sanction given for death sentence, Houthis handling nurse’s case: Yemen Embassy

Sub: IR

Sec: Places in news

Context:

The Embassy of Yemen in India has clarified that Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, has not approved the death sentence of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya.

Background of the Case:

Nimisha Priya, an Indian nurse, was sentenced to death in Yemen for the alleged murder of her business partner, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017.
The Houthi militias, who control Sanaa, the area where Ms. Priya is detained, have been handling the entire case. The Yemeni government, under the internationally recognized leadership of Rashad al-Alimi, has stated that it has not ratified the death sentence.
With competing political claims and a divided governance structure, resolving the case will require navigating the complexities of Yemen’s internal conflict.

Civil war in Yemen:

The Yemen Civil War began in 2014 when the Houthi movement, a Zaidi Shia group from northern Yemen, seized the capital, Sana’a, and later ousted the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.
In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of mostly Sunni Arab states intervened militarily to restore Hadi’s government.
The war has evolved into a complex conflict involving various factions, including the Houthi rebels, the Hadi government, southern separatists (STC).

Current Political Situation in Yemen:

Houthi Militias (Ansar Allah): A Shia Muslim political and armed group that controls the capital, Sanaa, and about 50% of the country’s population. They are aligned with Iran and are one of the primary factions in the ongoing civil war.
Internationally Recognized Government: Based in the southern and eastern parts of Yemen, this government is supported by Saudi Arabia and is internationally acknowledged as the legitimate authority.
Southern Transitional Council (STC): Backed by the UAE, it controls parts of southern Yemen and is involved in the broader conflict.

Yemen Embassy in India:

The Yemeni Embassy in India represents the Saudi-backed government of Yemen, not the Houthi militants. This is significant because the Houthi militia, which controls Sanaa, does not have any official representation in India.