25 Indians on Death Row in UAE, 11 in Saudi Arabia – Govt Reveals Shocking Data

Dubai(The Uttam Hindu): The government informed Parliament on Thursday that 25 Indian citizens in the UAE and 11 in Saudi Arabia have been sentenced to death, but the sentences have not yet been carried out.

Citing "informal information" available with local Indian missions, the government also stated that no Indian citizen has been executed in the UAE between 2020 and 2024. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha regarding Indians imprisoned abroad, revealed that as of now, 10,152 Indian nationals, including under-trial prisoners, are incarcerated in foreign jails.

Singh highlighted that due to strict confidentiality laws in several countries, local authorities do not disclose information about prisoners unless the individual consents to it. Even when shared, details about foreign nationals in custody are often limited. The minister assured that the government prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of Indian citizens abroad, including those in foreign prisons. He added that Indian missions closely monitor the arrests of Indian nationals for legal violations overseas. Once notified of an Indian citizen’s detention, the local Indian mission immediately contacts the foreign office and local authorities to gain consular access, verify nationality, and ensure their well-being.

According to official records, seven Indians were executed in 2024, including three each in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia and one in Zimbabwe. Currently, death sentences of Indian nationals remain pending in UAE (25), Saudi Arabia (11), Malaysia (6), Kuwait (3), and one each in Indonesia, Qatar, the USA, and Yemen. Indian missions provide legal and consular assistance to Indians facing the death penalty, including facilitating appeals, mercy petitions, and legal representation.