New Delhi : In a significant development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar convened a meeting with the family members of eight Indian nationals who were recently handed a death sentence by a Qatari court. During the meeting, Jaishankar conveyed the government’s unwavering commitment to the case and assured the families of their highest priority.
The eight individuals, all former Indian Navy personnel, were sentenced to death by Qatar’s Court of First Instance last Thursday, a ruling that has been described by India as ‘deeply’ shocking. The government has vowed to explore all legal avenues in the case.
“Met this morning with the families of the 8 Indians detained in Qatar. Stressed that the Government attaches the highest importance to the case. Fully share the concerns and pain of the families,” Jaishankar stated.
He underlined that the Government is committed to making every possible effort to secure the release of these Indian nationals and will closely coordinate with the families to achieve this objective.
The Indian citizens, who were employed by the private company Al Dahra, were arrested in August last year, reportedly in connection with an alleged case of espionage. However, neither the Qatari authorities nor the Indian government disclosed the charges against these individuals publicly.
In response to the Qatari court’s ruling, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced its intention to accord ‘high importance’ to this case and explore all available legal options. Charges were filed against the eight Indian navy veterans on March 25, and they were tried under Qatari law.
