Qatar Court Sentences 8 Indian Naval Officers To Death: A Shocking Verdict

In a surprising turn of events, the Court of First Instance in Qatar has pronounced the death penalty for eight former Indian naval officers who were held in Doha. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed deep shock over this ruling and is now eagerly awaiting the comprehensive judgment.

In an official press release, the MEA conveyed, "We have received preliminary information that the Court of First Instance in Qatar has issued a verdict today in the case concerning 8 Indian employees of the Al Dahra company. We are deeply shocked by the imposition of the death penalty and are awaiting the detailed judgment. We remain in close contact with the families and legal representatives, actively exploring all available legal avenues."

Underlining the significance of the case, the MEA further stated, "This matter is of utmost importance to us, and we have been vigilantly monitoring its developments. We are committed to providing all necessary consular and legal support. Additionally, we intend to discuss this verdict with the Qatari authorities."

However, given the confidentiality surrounding the case proceedings, the MEA refrained from making further comments at this time.

The eight Indian nationals have been detained in Qatar since October 2022 on charges of alleged espionage related to a submarine program. New Delhi had succeeded in obtaining consular access to these individuals and had been working diligently to secure their release. The first trial for the detained officers took place in late March.

Family members of the detained officers have been seeking the Indian government's intervention, with appeals directed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their immediate return.