Father seeks MEA intervention for daughter on death row in UAE, moves Delhi HC

ANI March 1, 2025 210 views

A desperate father fights to save his daughter Shahzadi Khan from execution in the UAE after she was sentenced to death for an infant's death. The case involves complex allegations of torture, coerced confession, and alleged procedural irregularities in her legal proceedings. Shabbir Khan has approached the Delhi High Court seeking Ministry of External Affairs intervention to review his daughter's case. The situation highlights the critical challenges faced by Indian workers abroad and the urgent need for diplomatic protection.

"Our daughter was tortured into a false confession" - Shabbir Khan, Father
By Sushil Batra, New Delhi, March 1: The father of Shahzadi Khan, the UP woman facing a death sentence in the UAE, approached the Delhi High Court on Saturday seeking a directive to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and authorities to issue a bulletin and ascertain information regarding the exact current legal status and well-being of his daughter.

Key Points

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Father seeks urgent intervention to save daughter from UAE execution

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Shahzadi Khan claims torture led to confession

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Indian Embassy provided inadequate legal support

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Mercy petitions repeatedly ignored

Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old woman from the Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, is facing execution in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Shahzadi Khan, currently imprisoned in Abu Dhabi's Al Wathba jail, has been sentenced to death by a court for the death of a child who was under her care.

Plea moved through advocate Ali Md Maaz stated that in December 2021, Shabbir Khan's daughter obtained a visa and traveled to Abu Dhabi, with a transit in Dubai. In August 2022, her employer, gave birth to a son for whom Shabbir's daughter was employed as a caregiver. On December 7, 2022, the infant received routine vaccinations and tragically passed away that evening.

The hospital recommended a postmortem, but the infant's parents refused and signed a consent letter waiving further investigation, as stated in the plea.

It further stated that in February 2023, a video recording allegedly showed Shabbir's daughter confessing to the infant's homicide, a confession she claims was extracted through torture and abuse by her employer and family. On February 10, 2023, she was handed over to the Abu Dhabi police, and on July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to death for the infant's homicide.

Although legal counsel was provided by the Indian Embassy, it reportedly pressured her to confess, denying her adequate representation. Her appeal in September 2023 was dismissed, and the death penalty was upheld on February 28, 2024.

Following the dismissal, Shabbir Khan sought clemency proceedings through the Indian Embassy but received a reply concerning an unrelated case. He filed a new mercy petition in May 2024. On July 11, 2024, he forwarded a mercy petition to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi but received no response. On February 14, 2025, Shabbir Khan received a call from his incarcerated daughter, suggesting imminent execution. He then filed a formal request with the Ministry of External Affairs on February 20, 2025, seeking an inquiry into her legal status and wellbeing, but received no update.

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Tags:
Shahzadi Khan UAE Death Penalty MEA Intervention Indian Expatriate Rights Mercy Petition Abu Dhabi Legal Case
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