New Delhi, Feb 12 (EFE).- India announced on Monday the release of eight former Indian navy officers who were sentenced to death in Qatar, allegedly for espionage. <\/p>
Their sentence was commuted in December after New Delhi’s intervention.<\/p>
“The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.<\/p>
After 18 months in Qatari prison, seven among the eight “have returned to India,” the ministry added.<\/p>
The eight Indian nationals, all veterans of the Indian navy and employees of Dahra Global that provided services to the Qatari navy, were arrested in Doha in August last year by Qatari intelligence forces.<\/p>
They were sentenced to death on Oct. 26 by a Qatari court, without India or Qatar clarifying the reason.<\/p>
New Delhi filed an appeal against the capital punishment, following which the Qatari authorities commuted the death sentence on Dec. 28. <\/p>
“We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals,” the Indian ministry said. <\/p>
There has been little information about the charges against the eight men, with various international media outlets reporting that the men were accused of spying for Israel. EFE<\/p>
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