Indian National Hanged in Abu Dhabi for Killing Infant
Abu Dhabi, March 4: – An Indian woman, Shahzadi Khan, 33, from Uttar Pradesh's Banda district, was executed in Abu Dhabi on February 15, 2025, after being convicted of murdering a four-month-old infant in her care. The execution was confirmed to her family on February 28. Khan, who worked as a domestic help, was sentenced to death after being found guilty of killing the baby. Despite legal assistance from the Indian government, including hiring a law firm and submitting mercy petitions, the UAE's Court of Cassation upheld her death sentence. Her father, Shabbir Khan, expressed grief and claimed that the Indian government did not provide sufficient support. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that all possible legal avenues were pursued. Shahzadi's last rites are scheduled to take place in the UAE on March 5.
Government's Response and Family's Allegations
The Indian embassy in the UAE was officially informed of the execution on February 28. The MEA clarified that diplomatic efforts were made to seek clemency, but the UAE's legal system upheld the ruling. Meanwhile, Shahzadi's family has criticized the lack of timely information and support. Her father claimed that multiple pleas for assistance went unanswered and that they were not informed about the execution until after it had taken place. The case has sparked discussions about legal aid for Indian nationals abroad and the challenges faced by migrant workers in the Gulf region.
The incident occurred on December 7, 2022, following the infant's routine vaccinations. Despite the hospital's recommendation for a postmortem, the parents declined and signed a waiver. In February 2023, a video surfaced allegedly showing Shahzadi confessing to the crime; however, she claimed the confession was coerced through torture by her employer and their family. She was arrested on February 10, 2023, and sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. Her appeal in September 2023 was rejected, and the sentence was upheld on February 28, 2024. Shahzadi's father, Shabbir Khan, alleged she was wrongfully implicated to shield the couple from blame. He also accused the Indian Embassy of failing to support his daughter, alleging that the legal counsel pressured her into confessing. The family's legal counsel, Ali Mohammad, described the execution as an "extrajudicial killing in the guise of judicial killing." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that all possible legal assistance was provided, including hiring a law firm and submitting mercy petitions, but the UAE's legal system upheld the death sentence.
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