A Qatari court has decided to commute the death sentences of eight former Indian naval officers, whose specific charges remain undisclosed by both Qatar and India.
The Indian foreign ministry released a statement confirming the reduction in sentences but refrained from specifying the nature of the new penalties.
While the Indian government officially described them as “ex-servicemen” in parliament, the families of some of the men confirmed their backgrounds in the Navy to local media. Last year, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar acknowledged their employment at Al Dahra.
In a recent development, India’s ambassador to Qatar visited the imprisoned men, and during Thursday’s court hearing, Indian officials, along with family members, were present in the Court of Appeal of Qatar.
The Indian foreign ministry emphasised the confidential nature of the proceedings, stating, “Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture.”
The ministry is awaiting the detailed judgment and is in close communication with legal representatives and the families to determine the next steps.
