Describing as "shocking" the death sentence to 17 Indians in the United Arab Emirates, the government said on Tuesday that it will ensure all possible help to them, including legal assistance, to file an appeal in a higher court.
The Indian consulate has already sought access to these Indians, sentenced to death by Sharjah's Shariah court for killing a Pakistani man and injuring three others in an alleged fight over illegal alcohol business. "We will give them consular assistance and we will also try to find out in what other ways we can help them out to file an appeal in higher court," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said.
Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi said "....see that everything should be done and give an important lawyer and also financial assistance to the accused and definitely, we will try to help these people who are in the need of government help. We will do that, I can assure you that. The death sentence to 17 people at a time is rather shocking. So, we have decided to give maximum possible help to them."