Lok Sabha Question No. 1180 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Violation of Law in Ignorance
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1180

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## VIOLATION OF LAW IN IGNORANCE

- †1180.     SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state

- (a) whether the Indian labourers who were working in Gulf countries and who did not know the   Arabic   language   are   serving   in   jails   there,   as   they   failed   to   follow   the   oral instructions of their Arabi masters and violated law in ignorance;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether these Indian nationals are imprisoned in the jails of Gulf countries for a long time;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether the Government proposes to formulate a foreign policy to get them released and bring back to India; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) The Ministry has not come across any case of Indian labourers serving prison sentence in Gulf countries due to not following the oral instructions of their employers or violation of law in ignorance.
- (c) & (d) As per the information available with the Ministry, the number of Indian nationals imprisoned in the jails of Gulf countries, for varying periods of sentences, is 4604 as of May 2018.  Detailed country-wise list is given at Annexure.
- (e) & (f) As soon as Indian Missions and Posts abroad receive information from the local authorities about Indian nationals who are arrested or convicted after due process of law, the Missions/Posts   seek   consular   access   and   visit   them   and   renders   all   possible   assistance including legal assistance through empanelled law firms. In addition, Mission officials visit the prison every month and meet Indian prisoners to look into their welfare, provide basic needs like toiletries and phone cards to enable them to speak to their families, assist in dispatch and receipt of their personal mails, advice them in respect of mercy petitions, etc. If any mercy petition for remission of sentence is received from family members of Indian prisoners, the Mission recommends them to the local authorities for consideration. In addition, the Mission regularly requests   the   local   authorities   for   their   early   release   and   royal   pardon.   On   their release, prisoners are issued travel documents by the Mission. Their repatriation is facilitated by   the   Mission   at   the   Airport   to   enable   their   smooth   return.   Air   tickets   and   financial assistance /payment of fines are facilitated by the Mission on a case to case basis.

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## ANNEXURE

| S. No.   | Name of Country      | Number of Indian nationals imprisoned in Gulf countries   |
|----------|----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Bahrain              | 97                                                        |
| 2        | Iraq                 | NIL                                                       |
| 3        | Kuwait               | 484                                                       |
| 4        | Oman                 | 113                                                       |
| 5        | Qatar                | 210                                                       |
| 6        | Saudi Arabia         | 2060                                                      |
| 7        | Syria                | NIL                                                       |
| 8        | United Arab Emirates | 1640                                                      |
| Total    | Total                | 4604                                                      |