Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old hailing from Uttar Pradesh India, was put to death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on February 15 2025 on charge of a murder of a four-month-old child under her care. The execution that was carried out in Abu Dhabi has raised eyebrows and ignited debate about the legal procedure and diplomatic manoeuvres leading up to the case.
Khan, who was from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, had been employed as a caregiver in Abu Dhabi since 2021. She worked for an Indian family and was tasked with caring for their one-month-old baby. Tragic events, however, occurred on 7 December 2022, when the baby died a short while after undergoing routine vaccinations.
Legal Proceedings and Execution
After the baby’s death, Khan was detained and later found guilty of murder. On July 12 2023, the Abu Dhabi court sentenced her with a death penalty. Despite the appeals and diplomatic moves by the Indian government, the UAE’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentence.
Khan was thus executed on February 15 2025, of which the Indian embassy in the UAE was notified officially only on 28 February. The delay in the communication has only added to the agony of Khan’s family and raised questions regarding the transparency of the procedure.
Khan’s last call to her family was made on February 13, two days prior to her execution. In this call, she expressed her concerns regarding her fate, informing her father, Shabbir Khan, that she may not make it and that it could be her last call.
Having no knowledge of the execution, Khan’s father had gone to the Delhi High Court inquiring about his daughter’s welfare. It was at a court hearing on March 4 2025 that the Indian government announced the devastating news of her execution.
Ministry of External Affairs Statement
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said that all legal help they could offer Khan had been extended, including mercy petitions and pardons being applied to the government of the UAE. But the efforts were unfruitful in stopping the execution.
Khan’s family insists that she is innocent, stating that the baby had died from a faulty vaccination. They further accuse that she was not being well represented by her lawyers during her trial.
The case has also generated debate about the efficacy of diplomatic efforts in such a case. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma informed the Delhi High Court, “We did our best to save Shahzadi. We hired a law firm there to represent her in court. But the laws there treat the death of an infant severely”.
The killing of Shahzadi Khan has left her family in grief and searching for closure. Preparations are underway for her last rites on March 5 2025 in the UAE. Her brother, Shamsher Khan, has expressed the family’s intention to approach the Indian government for assistance in repatriating her body.
This unfortunate incident puts into perspective the intricacies of global legal frameworks and the difficulties confronting foreign migrant workers. It also emphasises the necessity of strong diplomatic mechanisms and legal assistance for nationals encountering serious allegations abroad.
