54 indian citizens facing the death penalty abroad...?
Two indian citizens have recently been hanged in separate murder cases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that these persons have been identified as Muhammad Rinash Arangilottu and Muralidharan Perumthatta Valappil. They were originally from Kerala. This incident draws attention to the worrying situation of indian citizens sentenced to death abroad, especially in countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Rinash Arangilottu and Muralidharan Perumthatta Valappil, both residents of kerala, were sentenced to death for the murder of an Emirati citizen and an indian citizen respectively. The UAE's supreme court (Court of Cassation) upheld their sentence and they were hanged on 28 february 2025.
Arangilottu's case controversial
Arangilottu's case was particularly controversial as her family claimed that the murder was accidental. Her mother had appealed to the chief minister of kerala to intervene in the matter. Despite this, ultimately both the individuals could not be saved from punishment despite providing all possible consular and legal assistance.
Shahzadi Khan's hanging
Another indian national hanged in the uae was identified as Shahzadi Khan, who hailed from Banda district of Uttar Pradesh. A four-month-old baby died under her care in 2022, due to which she was charged with murder. Her family claimed that the child died due to vaccination mistakes, but the court convicted her and she was hanged on 15 february 2025.
Indian nationals facing death penalty abroad
According to government data, as of february 2025, 54 indian nationals are facing death penalty abroad, the highest number of which are in uae (29) and saudi arabia (12). saudi arabia is second after uae, where there are 2,633 indian prisoners. Apart from this, some indian nationals are also facing death penalty in Kuwait, Qatar, and Yemen. The indian government has made efforts to provide consular and legal assistance in these cases, but this assistance is often not enough due to the stringent laws of these countries and strict adherence to Sharia law.
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