PM Modi raises Baby Ariha issue with Germany’s Merz: All about the case

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also discussed the matter with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on a two-day visit to India

• India continues talks with Germany over baby Ariha Shah's foster care case
• PM Modi discussed Ariha's case with German Chancellor during his India visit
• Efforts to keep Ariha connected to Indian culture and language in Germany continue

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said that New Delhi continues to engage closely with Germany on the issue of baby Ariha Shah.

While addressing a press conference, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also discussed the matter with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is on a two-day visit to India.

According to MEA, it is a sensitive issue and discussions with the German government have been ongoing for a long time.

“Prime Minister Modi also mentioned this to the Chancellor, so we will continue to follow up with the German government on this issue, and we will stay with the family at every step…” he said as quoted by ANI.

According to Misri, at one stage, it was a legal issue, but it should now be approached as a humanitarian concern.

Emphasising India's awareness of the family's distress, Misri said, "We understand the family's distress and difficulties. We are fully aware of the situation, and we are trying our best to help them in every way possible."

At the same time, he underlined ongoing efforts to ensure that Ariha remains connected to Indian cultural surroundings while in Germany.

"We are also trying to ensure that Baby Ariha is raised as much as possible in an Indian environment, whether it's interacting with Indian people or participating in Indian festivals being celebrated in Germany," he said.

Misri added that steps are also being explored to enable Ariha to connect with the language and cultural learning. "We would like to make arrangements for him to participate and learn Hindi," he said.

What is the Ariha Shah case?

Ariha Shah is an Indian-origin girl who was seven months old when German authorities placed her in foster care. She is the daughter of Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, an Indian couple residing in Germany at the time.

On September 17, 2021, Ariha Shah was taken to hospital in Berlin by her parents after they noticed bleeding while changing her diaper. The hospital alerted the German Child Services leading to separation from her parental custody on charges of child abuse.

The case was closed with no formal charges following India's intervention in February 2022. The Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office) alleged that her parents had harassed her.

Jugendamt filed a civil custody case seeking termination of the couple’s parental rights and continuing Ariha’s placement in foster care due to the parent's negligence.

The MEA and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of the baby, who was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021.

Last year, PM Modi also raised the issue with German chancellor Olaf Scholz during their bilateral meeting in New Delhi.

During the bilateral talks with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, foreign minister Jaishankar urged the government to return Indian baby girl Ariha Shah to her homeland.