Shahzadi Khan, a 33-year-old Indian woman from Uttar Pradesh, was executed in the UAE for allegedly killing a four-month-old child under her care. The execution took place on February 15, 2025, following a death sentence upheld after Khan was reportedly coerced into confessing under duress. Her father, Shabbir Khan, approached the Delhi High Court for updates on her legal status after receiving alarming communication from her before her execution. Despite the Indian embassy’s involvement in her case, concerns were raised about the fairness of her trial and the lack of legal representation. Her cremation is scheduled for March 5, 2025.
New Delhi:
Shahzadi Khan, an Indian woman facing a death sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been executed, as reported by the Foreign Ministry to the Delhi High Court on Monday. The 33-year-old, hailing from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, was sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi following accusations of killing a four-month-old child.
The execution of Shahzadi Khan took place on February 15, 2025, in compliance with UAE laws and regulations, the Foreign Minister informed the court.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma stated that the Indian embassy in the UAE received formal notification of Khan’s execution from the government on February 28.
“Authorities are providing all possible assistance and have arranged for her cremation on March 5, 2025,” he added.
This development occurred after Khan’s father, Shabbir Khan, approached the court to obtain information about his daughter’s current legal status and well-being.
After reviewing the Ministry’s submissions, the court dismissed the plea, labeling the situation as a “sad and unfortunate” event.
Shahzadi Khan Case
Shahzadi Khan was held in Al Wathba jail in Abu Dhabi, where she received a death sentence related to the death of a child in her care.
According to Shabbir Khan’s petition, his daughter moved to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 after securing a legal visa.
In August 2022, her employer gave birth to a son, and Khan was hired as the caregiver. The infant tragically died on December 7, 2022, following routine vaccinations.
The petition also referenced a video in which Khan allegedly confessed to the homicide of the infant in December 2023. However, it contends that this confession was obtained through torture and mistreatment by her employer and family.
Furthermore, it indicated that the child’s parents refused a postmortem and signed a waiver to decline further investigations into the circumstances of the death.
The father claimed that although the Indian Embassy did provide his daughter with legal representation, she faced pressure to confess to homicide and was not given proper legal support.
Khan’s appeal was rejected in September 2023, and the death sentence was confirmed on February 28, 2024.
Subsequently, Shabbir Khan submitted a new mercy petition in May 2024. On February 14, 2025, he received a call from his imprisoned daughter, indicating that her execution was imminent. Following this, he formally requested the Foreign Ministry on February 20, 2025, to investigate her legal status and well-being, but received no response.