UP woman on death row in UAE, Shahzadi Khan, executed on February 15: MEA tells Delhi HC

Shahzadi Khan, UP woman on death row in UAE, executed: MEA tells Delhi HC

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that Shahzadi Khan, who had been sentenced to death in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the death of a child under her care, was executed on February 15.

In February 2023, the couple handed Shahzadi Khan over to the Abu Dhabi police, accusing her of murdering their infant. On July 31, 2023, she was sentenced to death by the court of first instance, and this sentence was upheld by the appellate court on February 28, 2024. Prior to her execution, she was held in the Al Wathba central jail.

The Ministry, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, told a bench of Justice Sachin Datta that both the ministry and the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi would assist in facilitating the travel of Shahzadi Khan's family members to Abu Dhabi for the last rites, which are scheduled to take place on March 5.

The law officer further stated that the ministry had made every effort to save the woman, including hiring a legal representative for her defense.

Although the court referred to the death as "unfortunate," it took note of the argument and dismissed the petition filed by Shahzadi's father, Shabbir Khan, which requested the Centre and the embassy to confirm his daughter's current legal status.

“It’s very unfortunate. She’s no more. I’ll record that,” justice Datta remarked.

In his petition, Shahzadi's father claimed that after receiving a call from his daughter on February 14, where she mentioned a transfer within the facility and the imminent execution, he had filed a formal request with the Union Ministry of External Affairs on February 20, seeking an investigation into his daughter’s legal status and well-being. However, the ministry did not provide any confirmation.

The petition also mentioned that after the appeal was dismissed, Shahzadi’s father had written to the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi requesting the initiation of clemency proceedings as per Abu Dhabi law, but no action was taken.

Khan’s plea further detailed that the infant had died in December 2022 after receiving routine vaccinations. The hospital had strongly recommended a postmortem to determine the cause of death, but the parents declined. However, a purported video recording was later obtained in which his daughter allegedly confessed to the homicide.

The plea claimed that the confession was coerced through torture, physical assault, humiliation, and abusive treatment.