Death sentence to 17 Indians is subject to appeal: UAE

New Delhi, Apr 5 (PTI) Amid concerns here over capital
punishment given to 17 Indians in Sharjah, UAE Monday said its
legal system guarantees 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 UAE legal system is subject to appeal and
cassation 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, it 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.
Indian 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.PTI AKK
PRS