UP woman on UAE death row executed on Feb 15, MEA tells Delhi HC

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Delhi High Court that an Indian woman named Shahzadi Khan, who was on death row in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was executed on February 15. Shahzadi, a 33-year-old woman from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, was accused of being responsible for the death of a child under her care.

Shahzadi had traveled to Abu Dhabi on December 19, 2022, using a tourist visa. After arriving, she stayed with a couple who later helped her get a caretaker visa. She was then hired by the family to take care of their infant son. However, in February 2023, the couple handed her over to the Abu Dhabi police, accusing her of killing their baby.

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The court of first instance sentenced her to death on July 31, 2023. This decision was later upheld by the appellate court on February 28, 2024. Until her execution, she was kept in Al Wathba Central Jail.

The MEA, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, told a bench led by Justice Sachin Datta that the ministry, along with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, would help her family travel to Abu Dhabi for her last rites, which are scheduled for March 5. The government also mentioned that they had made every possible effort to save Shahzadi by hiring a legal representative for her case.

The Delhi High Court, while acknowledging the case as "unfortunate," decided to close the petition filed by Shahzadi’s father, Shabbir Khan. He had requested the government to confirm his daughter’s legal status. In his petition, he stated that Shahzadi had called him on February 14, informing him about being transferred to another prison facility and the possibility of her execution. After receiving this call, he immediately reached out to the External Affairs Ministry on February 20, asking for an update on his daughter’s case. However, he did not receive any information.

He also mentioned that after Shahzadi’s appeal was rejected, he had written to the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi to request clemency proceedings as per Abu Dhabi law, but no action was taken.

Khan further claimed that the infant had passed away in December 2022 after receiving routine vaccinations. The hospital had suggested a postmortem to determine the cause of death, but the parents refused. Instead, a video surfaced in which Shahzadi allegedly confessed to killing the child. Her father insisted that this confession was forced through torture, physical abuse, and humiliation.

This case has raised concerns about legal proceedings and the challenges Indian nationals face in foreign countries when accused of serious crimes.