NEW DELHI: The Indian ambassador to Qatar met eight former Indian Navy personnel on death row four days back and two hearings took place on an appeal filed against the capital punishment handed down to them by a Qatari court.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi said this at a media briefing on Thursday.
The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentence by Qatar’s Court of First Instance.India described the ruling as “deeply” shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. An appeal was filed against the death sentence by the family members of the Indians.
“As you know, we filed an appeal that is from the families and the detainees. Two hearings have since been held. One, I think on November 30 and the other on November 23,” Bagchi said when asked about the case.
“I think the next hearing is coming up soon. We are closely following the matter and extending all legal and consular assistance. Meanwhile, our ambassador got consular access to meet all eight of the men in prison on December 3. We will continue to follow (the matter),” he added.
Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the matter with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani when they met on the sidelines of the CO summit in Dubai last week, Bagchi did not give a direct reply and referred to Modi’s post on ‘X’. “We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar,” the prime minister had said.
The Indian envoy was given consular access earlier as well. The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in an alleged case of espionage.
Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.
Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Arindam Bagchi said this at a media briefing on Thursday.
The Navy veterans were on October 26 given death sentence by Qatar’s Court of First Instance.India described the ruling as “deeply” shocking and vowed to explore all legal options in the case. An appeal was filed against the death sentence by the family members of the Indians.
“As you know, we filed an appeal that is from the families and the detainees. Two hearings have since been held. One, I think on November 30 and the other on November 23,” Bagchi said when asked about the case.
“I think the next hearing is coming up soon. We are closely following the matter and extending all legal and consular assistance. Meanwhile, our ambassador got consular access to meet all eight of the men in prison on December 3. We will continue to follow (the matter),” he added.
Asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up the matter with Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani when they met on the sidelines of the CO summit in Dubai last week, Bagchi did not give a direct reply and referred to Modi’s post on ‘X’. “We had a good conversation on the potential of bilateral partnership and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar,” the prime minister had said.
The Indian envoy was given consular access earlier as well. The Indian nationals, who worked with private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year reportedly in an alleged case of espionage.
Neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.
