Qatar releases Indian prisoners in 'special Ramadan gesture'
Qatar releases Indian prisoners in 'special Ramadan gesture'
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Doha to discuss security, migrant welfare and bilateral trade agreements
2 min read
Indian PM Narendra Modi with Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani [AFP]
Qatar released 23 Indian prisoners on Tuesday following a visit by India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Gulf state.
The move followed talks between the Hindu nationalist leader and the Qatari government in Doha, where the prime minister raised the issue of Indian workers' rights.
Modi hailed the move as "a special gesture to mark the start of a special month" on his official Twitter account.
The move followed talks between the Hindu nationalist leader and the Qatari government in Doha, where the prime minister raised the issue of Indian workers' rights.
Modi hailed the move as "a special gesture to mark the start of a special month" on his official Twitter account.
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In a separate tweet, he also thanked Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for the release of the prisoners.
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Qatar is home to 630,000 Indians, who form the largest expatriate group in the country. They have played a crucial role in Doha's $200 billion construction boom ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
In recent years, however, Qatar has been the subject of international criticism with regards to its treatment of foreign workers who make up 97 percent of their labour force, and 70 percent of the country's entire population.
On his two-day trip to the country, Modi visited Indian workers. During one meeting at a medical camp he told workers, "I am aware of the issues you are facing. I will talk about them when I meet the authorities."
Modi's meeting with Sheikh Tamim in Doha also resulted in the signing of seven agreements about health, tourism, youth and sport, infrastructure, energy and financial services.
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