India expressed gratitude for Qatar’s decision to release eight former Indian Navy personnel, previously sentenced to death, with seven having returned home. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) lauded Qatar’s Amir for facilitating their release, following diplomatic negotiations between the two nations.
Earlier, the death sentences of the Indian Navy veterans were commuted to prolonged prison terms after bilateral discussions. Out of the eight imprisoned individuals, seven have returned to India, with arrangements underway for the remaining one.
These former Indian Navy officers were detained in Qatar in 2022 over allegations of espionage related to a submarine program, facing charges of spying. The MEA condemned the court’s verdict as “deeply shocking” and vowed to pursue all legal avenues to clear the accusations against them.
The Dahra Global case witnessed a significant turn when Qatar’s court, after Indian government intervention, commuted the death penalties to imprisonment last year. This ongoing case underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and legal processes.
