New Delhi: The Government informed the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that 49 Indian nationals are on death row in eight different countries. While 25 of them are in the UAE, 11 are in Qatar, minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in a written reply to a question by IUML MP Abdul Wahab.
The minister also stated that 10,152 Indians are in prison abroad. Of them, 2,633 are in prisons in Saudi Arabia while 2,518 have been incarcerated in the UAE.
“The Government attaches high priority to the safety, security, and well-being of Indian nationals in foreign countries, including those in foreign jails. Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of Indian nationals being put in jail in foreign countries for violation or alleged violation of local laws.”
According to the minister’s data, Nepal has the third-highest number of Indian prisoners, at 1,317, after Saudi Arabia (2,633) and the UAE (2,518). Other countries with a significant number of incarcerated Indians include Qatar (611), Kuwait (387), Malaysia (338), Pakistan (266), China (173), the United States (169), Oman (148), and both Russia and Myanmar (27 each).
Since 2020, Kuwait has recorded the highest number of executions or capital punishments for Indian nationals at 25, followed by Saudi Arabia (9), Zimbabwe (7), Malaysia (5), and Jamaica (1).
However, as per the report, the ministry stated that the UAE did not disclose execution figures but confirmed no Indians were executed between 2020 and 2024. However, three Indians, including a nurse from Uttar Pradesh and a man from Kerala, were executed there in February this year.
Apart from the figures in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, there are six Indians in death row in Malaysia, and three in Kuwait. One Indian national each is on death row in Indonesia, Qatar, the US and Yemen.
“Indian Missions/Posts abroad provide all possible assistance to Indian nationals who have been sentenced, including death sentences by the foreign courts. Indian Missions/Posts also provide consular access by visiting the jails and follow up their cases with Courts, Jails, Public Prosecutors and other concerned agencies. The jailed Indian nationals are also assisted in exploring various legal remedies including the filing of appeal, mercy petition etc,” Singh stated in his reply.
