Qatar commutes death sentence for eight Navy veterans. What happens next?

They have been languishing in a Qatar prison since 2022, with the sword of death looming over them. However, on Thursday (28 December), the eight naval veterans, who were facing a death sentence in Qatar, heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced that their sentences had been commuted . On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs issued a press release saying, “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 judgment is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps.” The press release did not make any mention of the new quantum of punishment. What happens next? We get you the answers.

Veterans to continue prison term in India? The families and the eight naval veterans , who were detained in August of 2022 without being given a reason and sentenced to death in October, can heave a sigh of relief now that the Qatari court has commuted their death sentences. An official who wished to remain anonymous told the Hindustan Times, “The death sentence is off the table. The prison terms vary from a few years to several years.” For the families of the veterans the fact that the court has struck down the death sentence is the first positive development. However, those close to the families told The Hindu that they were disappointed that the original guilty verdict in the case — believed to involve charges of espionage — had been upheld, and said they would continue to fight to prove their innocence. While neither the MEA or Qatar has mentioned the new quantum of punishment, a Hindustan Times report citing people familiar to the matter said that the former Indian Navy veterans – Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Commander Purenendu Tiwari, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal and Sailor Ragesh Gopakumar – will remain in prison, serving terms ranging from three years to 25 years. And here comes the most important aspect; there’s a huge possibility that the veterans could serve out their prison terms in India rather than Qatar. [caption id=“attachment_13555832” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The eight Indian Navy veterans’ death sentences have been commuted with an official saying that they have been reduced to three-25 year prison terms. Image used for representational purposes/Reuters[/caption] How so? Former Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash has pointed towards a treaty that New Delhi signed with Doha in 2015 during the visit of Qatari foreign minister Dr Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah to India. The pact allows convicted individuals to serve out the sentence at home. The deal also allowed for Qatari citizens convicted in India to be brought to Qatar to serve their sentence. According to an official statement, this deal would enable the sentenced people to be near their families and would help in their social rehabilitation. The MEA said the Indian side is in close contact with the legal team and the families of the eight men to “decide on the next steps”. Notably, the Indian ambassador to Qatar was present in the Court of Appeal with family members when the verdict was delivered. “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,” a statement from the government said. What were the charges against the veterans? On 26 October, the eight Indian Navy veterans, who had been arrested in August last year, were sentenced to death in the Dahra Global case. Interestingly, neither Qatar nor India have revealed the specific charges against the men. However, reports have stated that the men had been charged with spying for Israel. The men, on the other hand, maintain that they were employed by a Qatar company named Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services to provide training and services such as logistics and equipment maintenance to the Qatari Emiri Navy. On 30 August 2022, the eight of them were arrested by Qatar’s State Security Bureau, the country’s spy agency. Following their arrest, they were put in solitary confinement during which some of them faced health concerns. [caption id=“attachment_13555802” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A timeline of events until 26 October, when the eight former Indian Navy personnel were sentenced to death in Qatar.[/caption] When asked about the spying allegations, a spokesperson for Israel’s embassy in India refused to comment, saying it was “not an Israeli matter”. At home, the MEA said that it was made aware of the arrests and they were extending all possible support to the arrested men. Some news reports said that besides the official legal means, New Delhi was also attempting to secure their release through diplomatic channels. In December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament that the detention of eight former Indian Navy officers was “a very sensitive case” and assured MPs that “their interests are foremost in our minds. Ambassadors and senior officials are in constant touch with the Qatar government. We assure they are our priority.” What have been the reactions now? The commutation of the death sentences by Qatar was welcomed by all in India. The family members have reacted cautiously, saying the verdict is not yet a vindication or success. The Congress has also expressed relief over the decision. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X, “The Indian National Congress shares its immediate relief along with the entire nation that the Court of Appeals in Qatar has decided not to go ahead with the death penalty on eight former Indian Navy officers. While fuller details are awaited we express the hope that even the jail sentence that has replaced the death penalty will be set aside and the officers will be set free.” The ruling BJP also hailed the commutation and said that it was a victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy and diplomatic efforts under it. “This development has once again made it clear that the entire world recognises the strength of India’s foreign policy under the leadership of Modi,” BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh said in a post on X. It is left to be seen what happens next. As of now, the ball is in Qatar’s court. With inputs from agencies