Kerala CM urges MEA to seek release of Indians imprisoned in Middle East countries

Thiruvananathapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged the Ministry of External Affairs to take up the issue of Indian prisoners languishing in jails in the Middle East.

Citing the release order of 149 Indian prisoners who are currently lodged in jails in Sharjah, Chief Minister Vijayan in a letter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that MEA should direct the diplomatic missions in UAE and other Middle East countries to seek the release of Indian prisoners in jails of these countries on humanitarian countries.

"As you (Swaraj) are aware the ruler of Sharjah Dr. Sheikh Syukltan Bin Mohamed Al Qasami had visited Kerala between 24th and 26th of September 2017. Both Ministry of External Affairs and State Government have been receiving large number of representations from Indian citizens who have been sentenced to jail in civil offences , especially in Middle East countries which have stringent legal frameworks. In this context, I had requested His Highness to consider their relese as a humanitarian gesture. This request was immediately agreed to and 149 Indian prisoners were ordered to be released," he said in a letter to Swaraj.

"In this context, it is suggested that citing this gesture of Sharjah, If Indian Government takes up this issue with other Emirates in UAE, we may be able to secure the relese of a large number of similarly placed Indians. It is requested that MEA may seriously consider taking this step and direct the diplomatic missions in UAE and other Middle East countries to pursue this request," he added