54 Indians languishing on death row in foreign jails
Even as uncertainty looms large over securing a waiver of the death penalty awarded to Nimisha Priya, a Malayali who has been sentenced to death in Yemen on the charge of murdering a Yemeni national, the data available with the Union Ministry of External Affairs reveals that 54 Indians have been languishing in foreign jails after being awarded capital punishment by foreign courts.
No State-specific data on Indians awaiting capital punishment abroad is available as many foreign countries do not share information on prisoners due to the privacy laws in those countries, unless the person concerned consents to disclose such information. Even countries that share information do not generally provide detailed information about the foreign nationals imprisoned.
47 executed
A total of 47 Indians were executed in foreign countries from 2020 to 2024. Kuwait has executed the highest number of Indians during this period—25. Saudi Arabia executed nine Indians, followed by Zimbabwe—seven, Malaysia—five. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) which accounts for the highest number of Indians on death row has not disclosed the number of Indians executed during this period.
Ajith Kolassery, Chief Executive Officer of NoRKA-Roots, the government agency which works for the welfare of Keralites abroad, said there was a shroud of secrecy about the details of Indians put on death row in foreign countries, especially in Arab countries. Two Keralites were executed in the UAE last month after being convicted in separate murder cases. 'We came to know about the capital punishment only after the execution,' said Mr. Kolassery, adding that cases like that of Nimisha Priya, which grabbed headlines internationally, had been pursued locally in a serious manner.
Not in all cases
The NoRKA-Roots has appointed seven legal consultants—five in the UAE and one each in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait who are fluent in Malayalam and Arabic—to aid the Keralites involved in various cases. Seven more legal consultants will be appointed in various countries soon. 'We can provide legal assistance to those involved in certain cases, including homicide, but it is difficult for providing such aid to those involved in drug cases which invite severe punishment is such countries,' said Mr. Kolassery.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have a higher number of Indians being incarcerated for various offences, especially since these countries account for the lion's share of Indian immigrants. For instance, of the 10,152 Indians, including undertrials, jailed across 86 foreign countries, Saudi Arabia has 2,633 Indians, followed by the UAE with 2,518 Indians.
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