Qatar Commutes Death Sentences for Eight Indian Navy Veterans, MEA Announces

Qatar has commuted the death sentences of eight former Indian Navy personnel, who were arrested on espionage charges, according to an announcement by the Indian External Affairs Ministry on Thursday. An Appellate Court in Qatar reduced the death sentences to jail terms, but a detailed judgment is awaited. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that it is in touch with the families of the individuals and refrained from commenting further due to the high confidentiality involved. The decision comes after diplomatic efforts led by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who met with the relatives of the incarcerated Indians and approached Qatar through diplomatic channels.

The eight former Indian Navy personnel faced espionage charges in Qatar, and after initially receiving death sentences, an Appellate Court in Qatar has now commuted their sentences to jail terms. The decision was reached after diplomatic efforts led by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who met with the relatives of the incarcerated Indians and approached Qatar through diplomatic channels. While a detailed judgment is awaited, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that it is in touch with the families of the individuals. The decision comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the COP28 event in Dubai.