In a remarkable turn of events, approximately ninety days subsequent to being condemned to capital punishment on purported espionage charges, Qatar has liberated eight former Indian Navy personnel, as disclosed by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday. Confirming their release, the MEA conveyed that seven of these individuals have returned to India, expressing gratitude for the Amir of Qatar’s decision facilitating their release and repatriation.
An official proclamation from the MEA, extending a warm welcome to the release of the veteran officers, declared, “The Government of India commends the liberation of eight Indian nationals associated with the Dahra Global company, previously apprehended in Qatar. Seven out of the eight have now reunited with their homeland. We acknowledge the discerning decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to authorize the release and homecoming of these nationals.”
The eight Indian citizens, employed by the private entity Al Dahra, had been incarcerated in Qatar since October 2022, facing allegations of purportedly engaging in espionage related to a submarine program. Despite the lack of official disclosure of the charges, the retired naval personnel were handed death sentences by a Qatari court on October 26. However, the Court of Appeal in Qatar, on December 28, commuted the capital punishment, substituting it with varying prison terms.
Providing insight into the verdict, the Ministry of External Affairs articulated, “We have duly taken note of today’s ruling by the Qatar Court of Appeal in the Dahra Global case, wherein the sentences have been mitigated.” The MEA emphasized their anticipation of the detailed judgement, remaining in close contact with their legal team in Qatar.
During the COP28 summit in Dubai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, discussing bilateral collaboration and the welfare of the Indian community residing in Qatar.
In an earlier statement, the recently appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, underscored the temporal significance of the current situation, stating, “Regarding this matter, there exists a 60-day window for potential appeal in the Court of Cassation, the highest court in Qatar.”
Revealing a confidential court order detailing the conversion of death sentences to imprisonment terms, the MEA’s legal team conveyed this development in a press release following the Court of Appeal’s ruling on December 28. Jaiswal affirmed, “We issued a press release informing you that the originally designated death penalty has been transformed into imprisonment sentences. Our legal team now possesses the court order, confirming distinct durations for each individual, with the complete abolition of the death penalty.”
Furthermore, the Court of First Instance in Qatar had previously adjudicated against them, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs. The MEA spokesperson highlighted the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad, emphasizing the positive discourse on the overall bilateral relationship.
