New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told the Rajya Sabha Thursday that at least 10,152 Indians, including undertrials, are currently lodged in foreign prisons. The data was provided in response to a question from Kerala MP Abdul Wahab.
The ministry also said that 47 Indian nationals have been executed or given capital punishment in foreign countries during the last five years between 2020 to 2024. These countries include Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe and Jamaica.
The most number of Indians have been executed in Kuwait. While as many as 25 Indian prisoners were given capital punishment between 2020-2024 in Kuwait, the second highest number of Indians, 9, were executed in Saudi Arabia during the same period.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, said that no data is available with the MEA on prisoners being executed in the United Arab Emirates as that data has not been formally shared by the country’s authorities. Informally, however, the minister said that it is known that no Indians in the UAE have been executed from 2020 to 2024.
The executions of three Indian nationals have been reported from the UAE so far this year. This includes Shahzadi Khan, Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil.
UAE tops the list in the number of Indians who have been awarded the death penalties which have yet to be implemented. As many as 25 Indian nationals currently await capital punishment in the UAE followed by 11 in Saudi Arabia.
The highest number of Indian undertrial and convicted prisoners at 2,633 are lodged in prisons in Saudi Arabia, followed by 2,518 in the UAE. Additionally, 1,317 are lodged in the prisons of Nepal.
The junior external affairs minister said, “As soon as the information about the detention/arrest of an Indian national is received by an Indian Mission/Post, it immediately gets in touch with the local Foreign Office and other concerned local authorities to get consular access to the detained/arrested Indian national to ascertain the facts of the case, confirm his or her Indian nationality and ensure his or her welfare.”
He said, “Missions/Posts remain vigilant to ensure that rights of the Indian prisoners in foreign jails are protected.”
Singh added that the government assists in providing legal aid wherever possible and consular access to prisoners lodged abroad. It also regularly follows up on their release and repatriation and assists in exploring various legal remedies, including filing of appeals and mercy petitions.
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)