A Qatari court has reportedly accepted appeals filed by eight Indian Navy veterans against the death sentence handed down to them on Thursday on suspicion of sharing sensitive information with unauthorized persons. On October 26, a Qatari court of first instance sentenced eight veterans to death.
Eight or seven retired officers and a sailor worked for the private firm Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, a company owned by an Omani national. An Omani national was arrested in the same case last year but was eventually released. The company carried out projects with the armed forces of Qatar.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed earlier this month that an appeal had been lodged in the case and that the ministry had been granted further consular access earlier this month. On 26 October, the MEA confirmed in a statement that it was providing full consular and legal assistance to the veterans.
“On October 26, the Court of First Instance in Qatar delivered its verdict in the case of eight Indian employees of al-Dahra. The judgment is confidential and has only been shared with the legal team. Now they are taking further legal action and I think the appeal has already been filed,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on November 9 during a weekly media briefing.
He added: “On November 7, our embassy in Doha gained further consular access to the detainees. We are also in contact with their family members. As you recall, the Minister of Foreign Affairs [S. Jaishankar] met family members earlier this month in New Delhi.
Qatar hosts about 7,000 Indians, who are said to be the largest expatriate community in the country
The legal way
After the trial court passes the death sentence, the next step in the appeal process is to the Qatar Court of Appeal.
If the appeal were successful at this stage, the next step would be the Court of Cassation – the highest court in Qatar’s judicial system. The Court of Cassation is competent to decide on appeals filed against judgments of the Court of Appeal.
If the appeal fails, the fate of India’s eight will rest with Qatar’s emir. The Emir has the power to pardon any prisoner or commute the sentence.
However, the Emir only grants pardons on special occasions such as Eid and Qatar’s national day, which is December 18.
