Death rap to 17 Indians subject to appeal: UAE

Amid concerns in New Delhi over the capital punishment given to 17 Indians in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates on Monday said its legal system guarantees a fair trial and the death sentence is subject to appeal and annulment by the rule of law, without any interference from the parties concerned.

"The UAE embassy in New Delhi has been following press reports with regard to convicted Indian nationals in Sharjah. Death penalty in the UAE's legal system is subject to appeal by the rule of law without any interference from the parties. We fully trust our legal system and its procedures and we are sure that it will provide and guarantee a fair trial to the convicted," the UAE embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.

Moreover, the court (in UAE) provides lawyers for those unable to get legal help themselves and gives them the right and the means to defend themselves in court, the embassy said.

Seventeen Indians were sentenced to death on March 29 by a Sharjah Shariah court for allegedly killing a Pakistani and leaving three others injured in an attack last year.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has termed as 'very unfortunate' the death sentence given to 17 Indians and has instructed his ministry to assist them in filing an appeal and also bear all the expenses involved.