- By Meryl Sebastian
- BBC News, Kochi
December 28, 2023, 10:48 GMT
Updated 12 minutes ago
Image source: Getty Images
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Neither Qatar nor India have announced the specific allegations against the men
A court in Qatar has commuted the death sentences of eight former Indian naval officers, India's foreign ministry said.
A statement from the ministry said the sentences had been “reduced” but did not specify what new penalty they would face.
Neither Qatar nor India have announced the specific allegations against the men.
FT and Portal, citing unnamed sources, have reported that the men were accused of spying for Israel.
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in India declined to comment, saying it was “not an Israeli matter.”
“Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the proceedings in this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comments at this time,” India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday.
In October, India said it was “deeply shocked” after the men were sentenced to death. She later appealed the court ruling.
The men's arrest last year made front-page headlines in India, but there is little confirmed information about the charges against them – the court order has not been made public.
The Indian government stated that the eight men were employees of a private company called Al Dahra, but it was widely reported that they were former Indian Navy personnel. Last year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described them as the country's “former soldiers” in Parliament. The families of some of the men have also confirmed their identities and Navy backgrounds to local media.
Earlier this month, the Indian ambassador to Qatar met the men in prison.
On Thursday, India said its ambassador and other officials, along with the men's family members, were present during the hearing at Qatar's appeal court.
“The detailed verdict is awaited. We are in close contact with the legal department and family members to decide on the next steps,” the ministry statement said.