Indian Citizens Face High Execution Rates in Kuwait, Yemen, and Beyond

The death sentence imposed on Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen has been temporarily suspended, but this incident has once again raised the issue of the safety of Indians living abroad. Nimisha is currently imprisoned in the central prison in Sana, Yemen. She is accused of the murder of Talal Abdo Mahdi in Yemen in 2017. In this case, the body was found in a water tank. According to Nimisha, Talal had mentally and physically harassed her and had also seized her passport. She claims that she took an extreme step due to the circumstances. However, the final decision in this case has not yet been made.

This case is not isolated. According to the Ministry of External Affairs statistics, in the last five years, 47 Indian citizens have been sentenced to death abroad. Currently, 10,152 Indians are in various countries' prisons awaiting trial. Most think that Yemen or Saudi Arabia are the countries that are strict with Indians, but in reality, the numbers show that Kuwait has the highest number of Indians executed. Between 2020 and 2024, 25 Indians were sentenced to death in Kuwait. Additionally, Indians have been sentenced to death in Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica.

According to the information provided by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh in the Rajya Sabha, currently, 25 Indian citizens in the United Arab Emirates and 11 in Saudi Arabia are awaiting the death penalty. Presently, there are 2633 Indian prisoners in Saudi Arabia, 2518 in the United Arab Emirates, and 1317 in Nepal. Due to incomplete data from some countries, the actual number might be higher.

The government provides as much assistance as possible in such cases. When an Indian citizen is arrested abroad, the Indian embassy or mission contacts the officials of the concerned country. Assistance is provided for consular support, legal aid, court assistance, and mercy petitions. The individual's Indian citizenship is confirmed, and efforts are made for their release through legal means. The government continuously follows up for their release and return to India. However, efforts are often limited due to strict laws in some countries.

Although the execution in Nimisha Priya's case has been halted, her future remains uncertain. The judicial process in countries like Yemen is difficult, complex, and filled with many obstacles. Language barriers, diplomatic relations, and local laws all affect the outcome. Therefore, even though the execution has been stopped, the case is not yet completely over.

Citizens traveling abroad need to be aware of local laws, culture, and regulations. In some countries, the death penalty is legally accepted and is commonly enforced. Particularly in Gulf countries, violations of the law are considered extremely serious. Therefore, it is necessary to follow legal procedures and contact the Indian embassy if needed.