India Explores Various Options, Including Royal Pardon, To Secure Release Of Eight Ex-Navy Officers Sentenced To Death In Qatar

India is actively exploring multiple avenues to secure the release of eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been sentenced to death by a Qatari court on charges of spying for Israel.

Among the options under consideration is the potential for a royal pardon from the Emir of Qatar, reported Economic Times.

India has launched a comprehensive diplomatic effort, engaging with various stakeholders in Qatar to weigh the available options.

According to the Economic Times report, Qatar does not have a widespread history of executing individuals held in its prisons.

Amnesty International reported a single execution in 2020, involving a Nepali migrant worker, and this occurred after a 20-year hiatus. The Gulf state had once said that a death sentence was equivalent to a life sentence.

The former Indian Navy personnel were employed by a private company called Al Dahra. The specific charges against them have not been publicly disclosed.

India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, met with the families of the eight accused on Monday (30 October) and assured them that the Indian government would make every possible effort to secure their release.

Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Hari Kumar, also stated on Monday that the government was putting forth 'every effort' to secure the release of these eight Navy veterans.

The Indian diaspora in Qatar plays a significant role in the bilateral relationship between the two nations. It is estimated that nearly 700,000 Indians reside in the Gulf country.