10,000 Indian prisoners released from foreign jails after 2014; Know how many released from which country

More than 10,000 Indians imprisoned in foreign countries on various charges have been repatriated since 2014 due to intense and consistent diplomatic efforts made by the Modi administration for their release and pardon. Official sources involved said the pardon given by the UAE to approximately 500 Indian prisoners during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan is reflective of the close bilateral relations between India and the Gulf country.

An official said, 'Since 2014, PM Modi's leadership has prioritized the welfare of Indian citizens abroad, ensuring the safe return of about 10,000 Indians imprisoned abroad through diplomatic dialogue and high-level intervention.' Prominent examples of the release of Indian citizens due to diplomatic efforts include the release of 2,783 Indian prisoners from the UAE in 2022 and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordering the release of 850 Indian prisoners during his visit to India in 2019.

At the same time, the most important diplomatic effort was the release of former Indian Navy officers sentenced to death by Qatar in the year 2023. Amar Ujala sources said that eight of them were given the death penalty and due to India's diplomatic intervention their sentence was reduced and then most of them were released. He said Iran, another Islamic country, released 77 Indian nationals in 2024 and 43 including 12 fishermen in 2023, while the Bahrain government pardoned 250 Indian prisoners during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit in 2019.

The Emir of Kuwait released 22 Indians and commuted the sentence of 97 others after diplomatic talks in 2017. Official sources said Indian fishermen have been released regularly by Sri Lanka due to India's regular intervention and 3,697 have been released since 2014. He said since 2014, relentless diplomatic efforts have ensured the release of 2,639 fishermen and 71 civilian prisoners from Pakistan.