New Delhi, March 1, 2025: The father of Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old Indian woman facing execution in the UAE, has approached the Delhi High Court seeking a directive to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ascertain her legal status and well-being.
Shahzadi, a resident of Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, is currently imprisoned in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba jail. She was sentenced to death in July 2023 for the alleged homicide of an infant under her care.
Shahzadi Khan UAE Case, Indian Woman Death Sentence, Delhi High Court
According to the petition, Shahzadi moved to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 for employment. She was hired as a caregiver for her employer’s newborn son in August 2022. The infant passed away on December 7, 2022, following a routine vaccination.
The hospital recommended a postmortem, but the child’s parents refused and waived further investigation.
In February 2023, a video confession allegedly showed Shahzadi admitting to the crime. However, she claims it was obtained under duress and torture by her employer and family.
She was handed over to Abu Dhabi police on February 10, 2023, and sentenced to death on July 31, 2023.
Her appeal was dismissed in September 2023, and on February 28, 2024, the death penalty was upheld.
MEA’s Alleged Inaction and Mercy Petition Efforts
Shahzadi’s father, Shabbir Khan, alleges that:
The Indian Embassy provided her legal counsel but pressured her to confess, denying her adequate legal representation.
After her appeal failed, he sought clemency proceedings, but the Embassy mistakenly responded regarding an unrelated case.
In May 2024, he filed a new mercy petition, followed by another on July 11, 2024, to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, but received no response.
Urgent Plea Amid Execution Fears
On February 14, 2025, Shabbir Khan received a phone call from his daughter, hinting at her imminent execution. He formally requested MEA’s intervention on February 20, 2025, but has received no update since.
With time running out, he has now turned to the Delhi High Court, hoping for urgent government intervention to save his daughter’s life.
