How UAE has grow to be nation with most Indians on dying row overseas

A pall of gloom has descended upon Kerala as information got here in that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has executed two natives from the Indian state. The deceased people have been recognized as Muhammed Rinash Arangilottu and Muraleedharan Perumthatta Valappil.

The information of the executions comes simply days after the Ministry of Exterior Affairs confirmed that Abu Dhabi had killed Shahzadi Khan, a UP girl convicted for the dying of a four-month-old little one.

This has put the highlight on Indians who’re on dying row in overseas nations — with the Indian authorities lately stating that 54 nationals have been on dying row with the very best quantity reported from the UAE (29) and Saudi Arabia (12). Furthermore, 10,152 Indians are in 86 completely different jails the world over.

Let’s take a more in-depth take a look at these numbers and the tales behind it.

UAE’s executes 3 Indians inside weeks

The MEA confirmed the information of Arangilottu and Valappil being executed by the UAE on Thursday (March 6). The 2 of them, hailing from Kerala, have been dealing with the dying sentence for the homicide of an Emirati nationwide and an Indian nationwide respectively.

The UAE’s highest courtroom, the Courtroom of Cassation, upheld their dying sentences, and the executions have been carried out on February 28, 2025.

Based on officers, Arangilottu, who hailed from Kannur, had been working in a journey company in Al Ain earlier than his arrest associated to the homicide of a UAE nationwide. A report by South First mentioned that Arangilottu’s mom had petitioned Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene within the case, claiming that her son by accident dedicated homicide whereas making an attempt to flee from the torture of a mentally challenged UAE nationwide.

The MEA has reported that every one doable consular and authorized help have been supplied to the 2 but it surely didn’t pan out in the long run.

The information of the executions of the 2 Keralites comes on the heels of 33-year-old
Shahzadi Khan, from Uttar Pradesh’s Banda, being hanged in a jail within the United Arab Emirates after she was discovered responsible of killing a four-month-old little one.

Khan had gone to UAE in 2021 together with her household alleging that she went below false guarantees and claims. Her main duty was to take care of the toddler of an Indian couple — Faiz and Nadia. In February 2022, tragedy struck when the four-month-old child below Shahzadi’s care handed away. The couple she labored for instantly accused her of being chargeable for their little one’s dying.

Nevertheless, Khan’s household maintained that she was harmless, claiming the four-month-old died from an incorrect vaccination on the day of his dying. They mentioned Khan didn’t get “satisfactory illustration” throughout her trial.

Her father later urged the MEA to intervene within the matter, however regardless of all efforts, she was discovered responsible and sentenced to dying.

UAE accounts for many Indians on dying row in overseas land

As per authorities knowledge supplied in early February, the UAE accounts for the very best variety of Indians on dying row in a overseas land. As many as 29 Indians have been dealing with the dying sentence within the UAE, Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for Exterior Affairs, knowledgeable the Rajya Sabha on February 13.

He added that as per knowledge accessible, the variety of Indian residents awarded the dying sentence by overseas courts was 54. Moreover, UAE housed the second highest variety of Indian prisoners — 2,518 — behind Saudi Arabia with 2,633 Indian prisoners.

Indians on dying row in different Gulf nations

Whereas the UAE could have the very best variety of Indians on dying row, it isn’t the one nation. Authorities knowledge reveals that 12 Indians are dealing with the gallows in Saudi Arabia, three in Kuwait, one in Qatar and one in Yemen. As per official figures, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq haven’t any Indians on dying row.

Maybe, probably the most well-known case of an Indian awaiting a dying sentence abroad is that of
Nimisha Priya, the nurse from Kochi, who has been sentenced to dying for the alleged homicide of a Yemeni nationwide, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in 2017.

Final December, the 34-year-old’s dying sentence had been permitted by Yemen President Rashad al-Alimi, leaving her together with her closing choice — securing a pardon from Mahdi’s household. For months, Nimisha’s family and supporters have been making an attempt to do that by elevating
diyah, or blood cash, to be paid to the household, and negotiations have been happening.

Whereas Nimisha Priya’s household and mates are nonetheless making an attempt to barter her launch by way of bloody cash, an Indian in Saudi Arabia escaped execution after Indians across the globe raised practically $4 million to save lots of him in April final yr.

In 2006, Kozhikode native Machilakath Abdul Rahim went to Saudi as a driver in the home of Saudi nationwide Abdulla Abdurahman Al Shahri and was additionally tasked with the care of his otherwise abled son, Anas Al Shahri. Nevertheless, a month into his job, Rahim whereas making an attempt to pacify Anas, who turned agitated throughout a visit, hit the tube hooked up to the boy’s throat, killing him by accident.

Sentenced to dying, the household of the sufferer agreed to pardon Rahim after Rs 34 crore was raised as blood cash to safe his launch. A closing order from a courtroom in Riyadh is awaited for his launch.

The explanation why Indians wind up on dying row

Based on many, the truth that so many Indians are on dying row in these nations reveals the cruel realities confronted by
migrant employees and the inflexible utility of sharia regulation within the area.

Kabir Taneja, deputy director and fellow on the Strategic Research Programme on the Observer Analysis Basis, instructed South China Morning Submit that in lots of situations when Indians transfer to those nations, withholding of passports has grow to be a norm. Many Indians routinely complain that their passport is taken away by their employer and in lots of instances, fee of wages can be delayed.

Even within the Nimisha Priya case, Mahdi had reportedly taken away her passport stopping her from returning to India. In July 2017, Nimisha injected him with sedatives in an effort to retrieve her passport. Nevertheless, he died of an overdose.

Many Indians additionally complain that the work situations supplied to them are pitiful. All these components could push them over the sting, driving them to take drastic steps in some instances. In lots of different instances, it’s merely the shortage of correct authorized treatments being supplied to Indians.

With inputs from businesses