Meeting with the families of the eight Navy veterans who received death sentences in Qatar on Monday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that the government is giving the case its utmost priority. The foreign minister said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the administration will keep working to achieve their release. “I met the families of the eight Indians who are being held in Qatar this morning. emphasised that the case is of the utmost importance to the government. I understand the families’ grief and concerns completely. The government will keep working to achieve their release. Will work closely in that direction with the families,” Jaishankar stated.
Met this morning with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar.
Stressed that Government attaches the highest importance to the case. Fully share the concerns and pain of the families.
Underlined that Government will continue to make all efforts to secure their release.…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) October 30, 2023
On October 26, eight Indian men who had all worked for the Indian Navy were sentenced to death by a court in Qatar. In August 2022, they were detained on unspecified allegations that were thought to be related to espionage. Each of them was employed by the private business Dahra Global at the time of their arrest.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it would appeal the Qatari court’s decision after expressing dismay at the outcome. “We are awaiting the whole verdict and are extremely surprised by the death penalty verdict. Following the decision, the MEA released an official statement saying, “We are in communication with the family members and the legal team, and we are investigating all available legal options.”
This matter is very important to us, and we have been keeping a close eye on it. We will keep providing all legal and consular support. We’ll discuss the ruling with the authorities in Qatar as well,” it continued.
Eight Indians were sentenced to death in Qatar: Here is a chronology.
In Qatar, the eight guys were taken into custody on August 30, 2022. At the time, Dahra Global was their employer.
October 2022: Access to consulates was authorised.
March 2023: Charges were brought against the veterans after the last of their several bail requests was denied.
Dahra Global ceased all of its activities in May 2023.
August 2023: The eight men’s solitary confinement came to an end, and they were reunited in groups of two in each cell.
October 2023: They were given the death punishment by a judge.
