Delhi News: There is a continuous increase in the number of death penalty cases across the world, especially the number of people getting the death penalty on foreign soil. Fifty-four citizens of India have been sentenced to death by foreign courts. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh gave this information on Thursday in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. According to the written reply of the Ministry of External Affairs, 29 Indians have been sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates, 12 in Saudi Arabia, three in Kuwait, and one in Qatar.
The question was asked to the central government whether the central government is taking any measures to save the life of Nimisha Priya, who has been sentenced to death by the Yemen court. Along with this, it was asked what is the total number of Indian citizens sentenced to death by foreign courts.
In response to this question, the Ministry of External Affairs has given information about the number of Indian citizens sentenced to death by foreign courts in a written reply in the House. The minister said in his reply, 'According to the information available with the ministry, foreign courts have sentenced 54 Indian citizens to death.'
When asked what active measures the government takes to save the lives of such citizens, Singh said, 'The Government of India gives high priority to the welfare of Indians abroad and provides all possible assistance to people in distress, which also includes the case of Nimisha Priya. The government is providing all possible assistance in this matter.'
Most Indians got death sentences in the UAE
The ministry gave information about the total number of Indians facing death sentences in Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the d United Arab Emirates. He shared the data of these countries, according to which 29 Indian citizens have been sentenced to death in UAE, 12 in Saudi Arabia, three in Kuwait, and one in Qatar.
He said, 'Indian missions or posts abroad provide all possible assistance to convicted Indian citizens. Indian missions provide diplomatic access by visiting prisons and following up on their cases with courts, prisons, public prosecutors,s and other concerned agencies of the respective foreign countries. Indian citizens lodged in jail are also helped in seeking various legal remedies, including filing appeals and mercy petitions.'
10,152 Indian undertrial prisoners in foreign jails
Responding to another question, the Union Minister said that according to the information available with the Ministry of External Affairs, the total number of Indian prisoners, including undertrial prisoners in foreign jails at present, is 10,152. He said, 'At present, the total number of Indian prisoners including undertrial prisoners in foreign jobs, ls is 10,152.' According to the information available from the Ministry, the number of Indian undertrial prisoners lodged in foreign jails is currently 2,684. (With language input)
