Qatar Court Sentences 8 Jailed Ex-Indian Navy Personnel to Death; MEA Says 'Exploring All Legal Options'

Eight former Indian Navy personnel have been given the death penalty by a Qatar court on Thursday.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it is deeply shocked and is awaiting the detailed judgement in the case.

The Indian nationals, all employees of Al Dahra company, were taken into custody in August last year in an alleged case of espionage. However, the charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities.

Ex-Navy Officers Linked to Acquisition of Submarines: Who Are the 8 Indians Sentenced to Death in Qatar?

“We have initial information that the Court of First Instance of Qatar has today passed a judgement in the case involving 8 Indian employees of Al Dahra company. We are deeply shocked by the verdict of death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgement. We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” the MEA said.

The foreign ministry said it has been closely following the case and will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities.

“We will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities. Due to the confidential nature of the proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture,” the MEA said.

Meanwhile, Congress has noted the Qatar court’s verdict and expects that the Government of India will use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to the maximum to ensure that the officers have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released at the earliest.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the Government of India must intervene in the matter.

India’s ambassador to Qatar had met the men in prison on October 1 after being granted consular access.