Qatar has sentenced eight Indian naval officers who worked for a private company that trained Qatar’s armed forces to death in Qatar for spying for Israel.
According to a Financial Times report, eight former Indian naval personnel were found guilty of spying on the Gulf state’s submarine development for Israel and were condemned to death by Qatar.
On Friday, India denounced the death sentences and declared that it would use all available legal measures to overturn the decision.
Eight individuals who worked for a private company that trained Qatar’s armed forces were imprisoned by Doha last year on suspicion of espionage.
The men were charged with espionage for Israel, according to a person briefed on the matter who spoke to the Financial Times. Neither Qatar nor India has disclosed the charges for which the men were found guilty.
The men were accused by Doha of “breaching sensitive secrets” after conferring with their families, according to the Hindu newspaper.
The accusations could not be independently verified by Middle East Eye.
According to a government spokesman in Qatar, the government would not comment on reports that the Indian men received death sentences for espionage.
According to the individual who talked with the Financial Times, death penalties are uncommon in Qatar, with the last execution occurring in 2020 and the before one occurring in 2003.
India affirmed that the eight individuals had been taken into custody by Qatari authorities in August of last year.
The guys were employed by Al-Dahra Global Technologies & Consultancy Services, a private company, according to a statement from India’s external affairs ministry, which stated that it paid “high importance to this case and has been following it closely”.
“The ministry will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance and will also take up the verdict with Qatari authorities,” the Indian statement said.
The military forces of Qatar receive training and related services from a private company called Al-Dahra. The men were engaged in a highly sensitive project using Italian miniature submarines that were designed to be stealthy, according to sources who spoke with NDTV in India.
In a recent episode of “The Langley Files,” the CIA admitted that it overthrew the Iranian government in 1953 for the first time in 80 years.
The men were described as “ex-servicemen” by India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar last year. The men’s families also confirmed to local media that the men had served in the Indian Navy.
Although Qatar and Israel do not have formal diplomatic ties, Qatar has been a key player in international attempts to rescue Hamas hostages and defuse the present crisis in Gaza.
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