An Indian woman, Shahzadi Khan, 33, was executed in Abu Dhabi on 15 February for the murder of a four-month-old infant. Her family, however, maintains that she was wrongly implicated and did not receive adequate legal representation.
Khan had been in custody since 10 February 2023 and was sentenced to death on 31 July of the same year. Despite efforts to appeal, Abu Dhabi’s highest court upheld the sentence, and the Indian embassy was officially informed of her execution on 28 February.
Her father, Shabbir Khan, expressed anguish over the lack of clarity regarding his daughter’s fate. He revealed that his last conversation with her was on 14 February, when she tearfully informed him about her impending execution.
Allegations of Coerced Confession and Judicial Irregularities
Khan was reportedly trafficked to Abu Dhabi in December 2021, and her family insists that she was deceived by a fraudster before being falsely accused of killing the infant. According to her legal team, the child died on 7 December 2022, shortly after routine vaccinations, but Khan was blamed for the death.
Her lawyer, Ali Mohammad, alleged that she was pressured into confessing and was not provided with adequate legal assistance during her trial. He condemned her execution as an “extrajudicial killing under the guise of legal proceedings.”
Court documents revealed that Khan was accused of asphyxiating the infant out of frustration over mistreatment and unpaid wages. However, her legal team refuted this claim, arguing that her conviction was based on coerced testimony and insufficient evidence.
Indian Government’s Response and Family’s Plea for Justice
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the Indian embassy in the UAE had provided legal aid, including submitting mercy petitions and pardon requests, but these were ultimately rejected.
Mr. Khan, who hails from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, criticized the Indian government for not doing enough to save his daughter. He claimed he struggled for over a year to get assistance but lacked the financial means to travel to Abu Dhabi or hire private lawyers.
With his daughter’s last rites scheduled for 5 March, he has now requested the Indian government to arrange his travel to Abu Dhabi so he can attend the ceremony.
Despite repeated appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, the execution went forward, leaving the family devastated.
Questions Remain Over Fair Trial and Diplomatic Efforts
The case has raised serious concerns about fair trial rights for Indian workers abroad and the effectiveness of diplomatic intervention. Legal experts argue that Khan’s execution highlights systemic flaws in providing adequate legal support to Indians facing capital punishment overseas.
As Mr. Khan prepares to bid his daughter a final farewell, he continues to seek answers and justice for what he believes was a wrongful conviction.
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