2023 Qatar espionage case explained

2023 Qatar espionage case
Location:Doha, Qatar
Target:A secret Qatari submarine project[1]
Date:August 2022 – February 2024
Type:Espionage
Outcome:All acquitted and released
Suspects:Eight former Indian Navy officers
Accused:All eight
Convicted:Yes, commuted in higher appeal
Charges:Not made public
Verdict:Acquitted
Formerly death penalty

In August 2022, eight former Indian Navy officers were detained in Doha, Qatar. Charges against them were not made public by Qatari authorities; however, media reports speculated that they were "spying for Israel".[2] The detained men who worked in Qatar were allegedly involved in dubious activities connected to espionage.[3] After long diplomatic and judicial efforts, their charges were commuted by December 2023, and all were released later. They reached New Delhi in February 2024.[4] [5]

Background

Millions of Indian nationals reside in the Persian Gulf region, with tens of thousands employed in semi-skilled and low-income jobs. These migrant workers have been instrumental in the development of the economies of Gulf Arab states and serve as a crucial source of remittances for India.[6]

The company, Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, for whom the eight Indians worked, described itself as a "local business partner" of Qatar's governmental agencies including defence.[2]

In 2020, Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Fincantieri — an Italian shipbuilding firm — to build submarines. The project also involved the maintenance of Qatar's naval fleet and construction of a naval base. However, the MoU was reportedly not implemented.[7] As of May 2023, the Fincantieri company had no existing contracts for submarines with Qatar. However, based on a 2016 agreement with the Qatar's Ministry of Defence, work on finishing seven surface vessels – including four corvettes, two patrol vessels and one amphibious vessel was in progress.[7]

Qatar is reportedly seeking a smaller variety of the U212 Near Future submarine, a submarine project in Italy built with a German firm's cooperation.[7]

Arrest

On 30 August 2022, the former Indian Navy officers, Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta and Sailor Ragesh, were arrested from Doha by the Qatari intelligence service.[8]

According to reports, they were in charge of teaching the Qatari Navy and were employed by a private company run by an officer from the Oman Air Force that offered training and other services to Qatar's armed forces. The arrested Indian nationals' bail requests were denied by Qatari authorities eight times. The men had their case forwarded to court by the public prosecutor.[9] [10]

Up till December 2022, India's MEA indicated that no charges were pressed. It said in a weekly media briefing: "If they say that the charges have not yet been pressed, let's take it at that value."

Trial and verdict

In late March 2023, the eight men had their first trial.[7]

In October 2023, the eight former Indian naval officers working for the Al Dahra consulting company, which was advising the Qatari government on the acquisition of submarines, were handed death sentences on 'spying charges' by a Qatari court.[11] The charges against the eight men were not made public by either the Indian government or the Qatari authorities.[12] [13] Some news outlets, citing unnamed sources, said the men were charged with spying for Israel.[14]

In December 2023, as per India's foreign ministry, the death sentences were commuted. However, the new penalty they would face was not specified.[15] [16]

In 12 February 2024 the Indian Government released a statement welcoming and celebrating the release of all eight former Indian Navy officers and thanked the Emir of Qatar for facilitating their release.[17]

Reactions

The detained Indian nationals in Qatar were actively sought for consular access by the Indian mission in Doha, according to the Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA). Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the MEA, said that the Indian Embassy in Doha spoke with the Qatari government and that Indian diplomats visited the arrested officials to inquire about their wellbeing. The families of the arrested individuals are still in contact with the Indian embassy in Doha, which is also providing consular and legal support. However, the MEA withheld any information pertaining to the accusations made against the former officers.[18] [19] [20]

According to Hindustan Times, an Indian journalist and their spouse were also ordered by Qatari authorities to leave the country for reporting on the case.[21]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Qatar awards death penalty to 8 ex-Indian Navy officers for espionage - Timeline . 26 October 2023 . 26 October 2023 . 26 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026163958/https://www.livemint.com/news/world/indian-nationals-sentenced-to-death-in-qatar-for-espionage-on-behalf-of-israel-11698318334914.html . live .
  2. News: 8 Indians allegedly spying for Israel arrested in Qatar - report . The Jerusalem Post . 10 November 2022 . Eight former officers in the Indian Navy were arrested in Qatar on suspicion of spying for Israel, although Qatari officials have refused to state the charges against the suspects despite their being in custody for over 70 days, Iranian media reported on Thursday. . 16 November 2023 . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028165747/https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-722034 . live .
  3. Web site: 8 former Navy officers imprisoned by Qatar accused of spying on emirate's super-secret submarine programme. Praveen. Swami. April 19, 2023. April 24, 2023. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015434/https://theprint.in/defence/8-former-navy-officers-imprisoned-by-qatar-accused-of-spying-on-emirates-super-secret-submarine-programme/1525711/. live.
  4. Web site: 8 Jailed Indian Navy Veterans Released By Qatar: A Timeline Of The Case . 2024-02-12 . NDTV.com.
  5. Web site: 2024-02-12 . Qatar frees 8 ex-Indian Navy men jailed on espionage charges, 7 return to India . 2024-02-12 . The Indian Express . en.
  6. News: 2023-10-27 . Qatar sentences Indian ex-naval officers to death . en-GB . BBC News . 2023-10-27 . 2023-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027042657/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67191248 . live .
  7. News: Motamedi . Maziar . Indians jailed for spying on Qatar for Israel: Reports . Al Jazeera . 2 May 2023 . en . 16 November 2023 . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028165815/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/5/2/indians-jailed-for-spying-on-qatar-for-israel-reports . live .
  8. News: 26 October 2023 . Qatar court hands death sentence to eight former Indian Navy officials; 'deeply shocked' MEA exploring all legal options . en-IN . The Hindu . 26 October 2023 . 26 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026142927/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/qatar-court-hands-death-sentence-to-eight-former-indian-navy-officials-deeply-shocked-mea-exploring-all-legal-options/article67461365.ece/amp/ . live .
  9. Web site: April 6, 2023 . Case of 8 former naval personnel detained since Aug comes up in Qatar court: MEA . Hindustan Times . April 24, 2023 . April 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015439/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-navy-personnel-detained-in-qatar-case-reaches-court-india-seeks-release-of-nationals-embassy-provides-assistance-101680799610870.html . live .
  10. Web site: 20 April 2023 . Qatar arrests eight Indian nationals accused of spying for Israel . I24news . 24 April 2023 . 24 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015434/https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/the-gulf/1682012897-qatar-arrests-eight-indian-nationals-accused-of-spying-for-israel . live .
  11. News: India 'exploring all legal options' after Qatari court sentences 8 Indians to death for spying . AP News . 26 October 2023 . en . 26 October 2023 . 26 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026142926/https://apnews.com/article/indian-employees-death-sentence-qatar-spying-submarine-5eb329c7bd7fdc8d2fe97f5630d7c987 . live .
  12. News: Qatar sentences eight former Indian naval officers to death . The Independent . 27 October 2023 . en . 16 November 2023 . 29 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029075125/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/qatar-death-sentence-indian-navy-b2436970.html . live .
  13. Web site: 2023-10-26 . 8 ex-Indian Navy personnel sentenced to death in Qatar; New Delhi says deeply shocked . 2023-10-28 . Hindustan Times . en . 2023-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027145527/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/8-ex-navy-personnel-sentenced-to-death-by-qatar-court-india-says-deeply-shocked-101698319804115.html . live .
  14. Web site: Qatar sentences 8 Indians to death on charges of spying for Israel . 2023-12-28 . www.ft.com.
  15. News: 2023-12-28 . Qatar commutes India ex-navy officers' death penalty . en-GB . 2023-12-28.
  16. News: 2023-12-28 . Qatar drops death sentence for 8 Indians on reported charges of spying for Israel . en. 2023-12-28.
  17. Web site: Yeung . Jessie . 2024-02-12 . India celebrates release of eight nationals detained in Qatar on reported spy charges . 2024-02-12 . CNN . en.
  18. Web site: India Seeks Release of 8 Ex-Navy Officers Arrested in Qatar Over Spying for Israel. 2023-04-24. 2023-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015436/https://propakistani.pk/2022/11/09/india-seeks-release-of-8-ex-navy-officers-arrested-in-qatar-over-spying-for-israel/. live.
  19. Web site: 8 Indians allegedly spying for Israel arrested in Qatar. WION. 2023-04-24. 2023-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015434/https://www.wionews.com/videos/8-indians-allegedly-spying-for-israel-arrested-in-qatar-533066. live.
  20. Web site: Explained: The row over 8 former Indian Navy officers being detained in Qatar. November 9, 2022. Firstpost. April 24, 2023. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424015436/https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/explained-the-row-over-8-former-indian-navy-officers-being-detained-in-qatar-11595881.html. live.
  21. Web site: 8 ex-Indian Navy officers awarded death penalty in Qatar; 'Deeply shocked', says MEA . Hindustan Times . 27 October 2023 . en . 26 October 2023 . 27 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027042912/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/qatar-court-sentences-8-ex-indian-navy-personnel-to-death-101698317488623.html . live .

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