Congress leader Manish Tewari strongly criticized the Qatari justice system for its handling of the death sentence imposed on eight retired Indian Navy personnel, labeling it as ‘arbitrary’ and ‘capricious’. The Court of First Instance of Qatar delivered the death penalty to these former naval personnel.
Taking to the social media platform X (previously Twitter), Tewari, a former Union Minister, expressed his concerns, stating, “These 08 decorated Naval Personnel are being subjected to a Kangaroo Trial.” He highlighted six contentious points in the sentencing, including illegal midnight arrests, twelve-month-long solitary confinement, confessions obtained under duress and torture, undisclosed charges, and the non-disclosure of the court’s judgment.
Questioning the Qatari justice system, Tewari emphasized the lack of transparency, asserting that even family members are required to travel to Doha and sign non-disclosure agreements to access the judgment. He raised doubts about the fairness of the Qatari system and called for urgent political intervention at the “highest level” to bring the eight individuals back to India.
“This matter requires political intervention at the highest level to bring these 08 men back home,” urged Tewari, cautioning against relying on an unpredictable justice system. He expressed skepticism unless the intervention aims to ensure a fair trial through the Appeals Court under the influence of Qatar’s authorities.
The eight former Indian Navy personnel, employed by Dahra Global, a private defense services provider in Doha, were arrested in August 2022 on charges of espionage. India strongly reacted to the ruling, using diplomatic channels to engage with Qatar on the matter.
In response to the criticism, a Qatari court accepted the appeal document on Friday, indicating a potential reconsideration of the sentencing. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the confidentiality of the judgment and appealed for refraining from speculation due to the case’s sensitive nature. The MEA also confirmed another consular access on November 7 and reiterated government support for the eight naval personnel. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured the family members of full government support in an earlier meeting.
