Qatar has recently released eight former Indian Navy personnel, who had been imprisoned for nearly three and a half months after being sentenced to death on suspicion of espionage.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), seven of these individuals have returned to India. The MEA expressed gratitude towards the Amir of Qatar for facilitating the release and safe return of these Indian nationals.
In a concise statement, the MEA stated, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and homecoming of these nationals.”
Initially, on October 26, the Navy veterans were sentenced to death by Qatar’s Court of First Instance. However, on December 28, the Court of Appeal in Qatar commuted their sentences to varying jail terms.
These individuals, who were employed by the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August 2022 in connection with an alleged espionage case. The specific charges against them were not disclosed by either Qatari authorities or the Indian government.
The charges were brought against the eight Indian Navy veterans on March 25 of the previous year, and they underwent trial in accordance with Qatari law.
Following the commutation of the death sentences by the Court of Appeal, the individuals were granted a 60-day period to appeal against their jail terms.
In May of the preceding year, Al-Dhara Global ceased its operations in Doha, leading to the return of all its employees, primarily Indians, to their home country.
Furthermore, India explored the possibility of utilizing the provisions of a bilateral agreement regarding the transfer of sentenced persons. The pact, established between India and Qatar in 2015, allows citizens of both countries who have been convicted and sentenced for criminal offenses to serve their sentences in their respective home countries.