Confirming that the sentences have been reduced, MEA says the detailed judgement is awaited
The Court of Appeal in Qatar has commuted the death sentence that had been handed down to eight former Indian Navy officers earlier this year. A detailed court order is awaited, but the Indian government said on Thursday (December 28 2023) that the sentence has been reduced.
 
"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. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The former Indian Navy officers were working for the Doha-based Dahra Global firm when they were detained in August 2022. The charges against them were not made public by the Qatari authorities but some news reports suggested they were charged with security-related crimes. 
 
The first hearing in the case was held on March 29, 2023 after it was referred to the court by the public prosecution.
 
On October 26, 2023, a court in Qatar awarded the death penalty to these eight Indian nationals. An appeal against this order was subsequently filed on behalf of their families.
 
According to the MEA, the Indian 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," the MEA added.

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 MEA stated.
 
Briefing the media on the status of the legal proceedings on December 7, 2023, MEA Spokesperson Bagchi also mentioned the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad on the sidelines of COP-28 in Dubai on December 1, 2023. The two leaders discussed the bilateral relations in detail and the well-being of the Indian community in Qatar, Bagchi said.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met the family members of the former Indian Navy officers in New Delhi on October 30, 2023. He assured them that the Indian government would continue to make all efforts to secure their release. 
 
The Indian Ambassador got consular access to meet the eight former Indian Navy officials on December 3, 2023. The Indian Embassy in Qatar had earlier received consular access to the imprisoned Indians in November.