The Indian government reported that 10,152 Indians are imprisoned in foreign jails, with 25 under sentence of death in the UAE. Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to aiding these individuals, providing legal support and monitoring their cases. No Indians have been executed in the UAE between 2020 and 2024, as per informal reports.
The Indian government, through Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, reported that 25 Indian nationals are sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although their executions have not yet been carried out. This information was disclosed in a written response during a session in the Rajya Sabha.
Currently, there are 10,152 Indian individuals, including undertrials, imprisoned in foreign jails. The government highlights its dedication to the safety and security of its citizens abroad, concentrating on those incarcerated in foreign facilities.
The detailed statistics shared indicate that several Indian nationals face death sentences across different nations. The breakdown reveals 25 in the UAE, 11 in Saudi Arabia, six in Malaysia, three in Kuwait, and one each in Indonesia, Qatar, the United States, and Yemen.
Assistance is being provided by the Indian government to those sentenced to death. This includes facilitating legal remedies like appeals and mercy petitions. “Indian Missions/Posts abroad provide all possible assistance to Indian nationals who have been sentenced, including with death sentences by the foreign courts,” stated Mr. Singh, who also confirmed that these missions maintain consular access to follow up on cases.
Addressing queries about Indian nationals executed in foreign countries in the last five years, Mr. Singh acknowledged occurrences in Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. In 2023 and 2024, executions involved three Indians in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, one in Zimbabwe, and other instances in the previous year.
While no official execution data is available pertaining to the UAE, Mr. Singh mentioned that informal insights suggest no executions of Indians occurred from 2020 to 2024. “No data available as the same is not shared by the UAE authorities. As per the informal information available with the Mission, no Indians have been executed from 2020 to 2024,” Mr. Singh remarked.
In summary, the Indian government has confirmed that 10,152 nationals are currently imprisoned abroad, with substantial numbers receiving death sentences in various countries. The commitment to assisting those sentenced reflects the state’s dedication to ensuring the safety and rights of its citizens. Notably, while death sentences exist in the UAE, recent informal reports indicate no executions have occurred in that region during the specified period.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com