Qatar Court Reduces Punishment For 8 Indian Navy Veterans On Death Row

New Delhi: In a partial major, the punishment of eight former Indian Navy personnel on death row in Qatar has been reduced.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Thursday that the Court of Appeal of Qatar had reduced the sentences in the Dahra Global case. However, the extent of the reduction wasn’t specified.

“We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced… The detailed judgement is awaited,” MEA stated.

India’s Ambassador to Qatar, officials and family members of the former Navy personnel were present in the Court of Appeal.

“Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities,” MEA added.

Among some of the most decorated personnel of Indian Navy with the experience of commanding major warships, the eight officers had been working for Al Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a private firm that provided training and related services to Qatar’s armed forces and security agencies.

The eight officers had been detained in Qatar for more than a year as their bail pleas were rejected several times.

It was in October when a Qatar court pronounced death sentences to them, following which the Indian government expressed deep shock.

Though the government didn’t reveal the charges on which they were sentenced to death, it’s believed to be espionage.