India is awaiting a detailed judgment after a Qatari court reduced the death sentences handed to eight navy veterans a day before, which came as a huge relief and a diplomatic win for the country weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit.
The ministry of external affairs said the interests of the Indian nationals and their family members was a priority and the next possible steps will be discussed with them and the legal team.
“The sentences have been reduced but I don’t have any additional information to share until we see the detailed judgment. We would urge you again not to engage in speculation. The interests of Indians and their family members is our foremost concern. We will also of course be discussing the next possible steps with the legal team and the family members,” said ministry spokesperson Arindam Bangchi, adding that he will not like to say more as the matter is sensitive.
After Qatar’s Court of Appeals commuted the death sentences handed out to the navy veterans, the ministry said on Thursday (December 28) that India’s ambassador to the country and other officials were present in court, along with the family members.
“We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities,” it added.
The eight former navy personnel, who were working with Doha-based Al Dahra Global Technologies, were taken into custody in August 2022 in a case of alleged espionage. While the charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities, they were sentenced to death by the Gulf country’s Court of First Instance in October.
They were working with the Omani private defence consultancy, which provides training and other services to Qatar’s armed forces and security agencies, to help oversee the induction of Italian U212 stealth submarines into the Qatari Emiri Naval Force. India had moved the Court of Appeal in Qatar against the death sentence last month.
(With PTI inputs)
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