India Stunned as Qatar Sentences 8 Nationals to Death on Alleged Espionage Charges
Qatar's sentencing of 8 Indian nationals to death on alleged spy charges has left India deeply shocked, raising concerns over their reported detention in Doha last year
Qatari authorities have sentenced eight Indian nationals to death on espionage charges, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs. Indias government expressed its deep shock at the verdict and stated that it would address the issue with Qatari authorities.
The statement mentioned that we are in contact with the family members and legal team, and we are currently exploring all possible legal avenues. CNN has made attempts to contact the government of Qatar, but an official comment has not been received.
According to a letter posted by Indian Member of Parliament, Manish Tewari, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the individuals in question were Indian nationals who had served in the Indian Navy. The letter, dated December 23 of the previous year, was a written response from External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to concerns raised by Tewari in parliament regarding the "illegal incarceration" of these retired Navy officers.
According to Chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, Maj. Gen. (retd.) Satbir Singh, the families of the men are deeply upset. He stated that these individuals were sent to Qatar to provide training to their naval personnel, but are now unjustly accused of espionage.
The organization, dedicated to the welfare of defense personnel, has been relentlessly advocating for the detained men since last year. They have penned letters to esteemed Indian government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Out of the group of eight, seven were commanders while one was a sailor.
Singh said that these men are all getting older and have various health problems that require attention. The families are extremely upset by this news. The Indian ministry did not disclose specific information regarding the charges or verdict, nor did they reveal the identities of the individuals involved. However, they did mention that these individuals were working for Al Dahra, a company based in Qatar.
CNN has reached out to Al Dahra but has not received a response.
The eight Indians were detained by Qatari authorities on spying charges on August 2022, CNN affiliate CNN-News18 reported Thursday.
CNN is unable to confirm the validity of the allegations.
Based on United Nations data, a significant portion of Qatar's foreign workforce, totaling over 2 million individuals, is comprised of hundreds of thousands of Indians. This accounts for 95% of the labor force in the gas-rich Gulf state.
This is a developing story, more to come.
