- Qatar has released eight retired Indian naval officers whose death sentences were commuted last year on espionage charges.
- The men were accused of espionage while working for Al Dara, a consulting firm advising the Qatari government on purchasing submarines.
- They were jailed in 2022 and initially sentenced to death, but their sentences were later commuted after an appeal by Indian authorities.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday that Qatar has released eight retired Indian naval officers whose sentences were commuted to death last year on espionage charges.
The eight were charged with espionage while working for Al Dara, a consulting firm in the oil-rich Gulf state that advised the Qatari government on submarine purchases. They were jailed in 2022 and sentenced to death in October, but their sentences were commuted after India announced it was considering its legal options and filed an appeal.
“We appreciate the decision of the emir of Qatar to enable the release and return of these nationals,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that seven of the men have returned to India.
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Indian Foreign Minister Vinay Mohan Kwatra said the two governments were working towards the return of the eighth retired officer.
On February 11, 2024, a sign with a photo of Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the flags of several countries, including India, is hung in the Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar. ing. Qatar has released eight retired Indian Navy officers. India’s Ministry of External Affairs announced on Monday that a man sentenced to death on espionage charges had his sentence commuted last year. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
The news came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 climate change talks in Dubai in December. It is unclear whether the two leaders have discussed the matter.
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Millions of Indians live and work in the Gulf region, many as semi-skilled or unskilled laborers. These are important sources of income for India and contribute to the economic success of the Gulf countries.
