Indians Sentenced to Death in UAE

Sharjah's Shariah court sentenced 17 Indians to death for killing a Pakistani man and causing grave injuries to three others on April 5, 2010. The attack by the accused, all between the age of 17 and 30 years, allegedly took place over an illegal alcohol business in the UAE. The verdict marks the largest capital punishment meted out to a group in the UAE.

Death Penalty in the UAE

Executions in the UAE, governed by the Islamic Sharia law, are typically carried out by a firing-squad and open executions are rare. Moreover, execution is generally reserved for convicting murderers, although several people have been awarded the death penalty in UAE for drug offences.

In the UAE, a death sentence is either appealed to the ruler of the emirate where the crime has been committed or the President of the federation. In case of a death sentence, only the victim's family can commute the sentence. Conventionally, the government tries to negotiate with a victim’s family with financial compensation or diya to forgive the accused and commute the death sentence.

Legal Recourse for the Indians under UAE Laws

The UAE legal system allows for appeal and cessation of a death penalty without any interference from wither parties. Besides, the same flexibility applies to homicide cases involving a life sentence. Morover, the court in UAE provides lawyers to those who are unable to arrange for legal help themselves, giving them an equal right to defend themselves in the court.

UAE law officials, in response to the sentence, ensured legal protection to the accused Indians by guaranteeing a fair chance for contesting their stance and going into trial. According to UAE laws, the accused have to make an appeal before a lapse of 15 days from the date of verdict.

In consonance with the formality, representatives of the convicted Indians have already presented an appeal to the court for ratifying the ruling.