In a tragic case that has gripped the attention of many, Indian national Shahzadi Khan faced execution on February 15 in Abu Dhabi, linked to the death of a four-month-old baby. This shocking news emerged during a Delhi High Court hearing on a petition from Shahzadi's father. Justice Sachin Datta lamented the unfolding events as profoundly unfortunate. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma confirmed the execution date and that her last rites are scheduled for March 5.
Shahzadi was incarcerated at the 'Al-Wathba' prison in Abu Dhabi—a name synonymous with a leap. Here, she met her fate, propelled by a love gone awry that led her to Abu Dhabi under false pretenses. Tricked into seeking medical treatment, Shahzadi was deceived, enslaved as domestic help, and ultimately manipulated into a tragic figure now etched in history without a return to her homeland.
An Aspiration for Plastic Surgery
Indeed, it was Shahzadi from Banda, Uttar Pradesh, who was sent—or rather sold—to Abu Dhabi on December 19, 2021, at the behest of her lover, Uzair. Shahzadi was just eight when boiling water tragically scarred her face. Yet, she remained resilient, completing her education and joining an NGO called Roti Bank dedicated to assisting the underprivileged. Her dream was singular—to earn enough for reconstructive surgery.
The Social Media Connection
Pursuing her dream, Shahzadi stumbled upon Uzair on social media—a resident of Agra—amidst the lockdown in 2020. Uzair promised to embrace her despite her scars. By 2021, he convinced her to travel to Abu Dhabi with the pretext of treatment, having amassed 90,000 rupees and some jewelry. Shahzadi found herself at his aunt and uncle's home in Abu Dhabi, with her aunt, Nazia, a professor at Al Nahyan University. It was there Shahzadi sensed Uzair's deceit.
Bound and Enslaved for Household Chores
There was a newborn in Nazia's household, necessitating a maid. Through false pretenses, Uzair led Shahzadi into servitude at his aunt's home for about 150,000 rupees. Educated, she quickly grasped the reality and sought to work outside, dreaming of earning enough to restore her visage. Despite her requests to Nazia for external employment, Shahzadi was not permitted to leave this cost-effective servile arrangement.
Source: aajtak
A Tragedy After Vaccination
Amidst these events, calamity struck Nazia’s household. On December 6, 2022, after receiving a vaccine, her four-month-old baby passed away tragically a few hours later. Though Nazia and her husband accused the hospital of negligence, they declined to conduct an autopsy when pressed by hospital authorities and buried the child.
Shahzadi’s Humiliation and Coercion
Following the infant's demise, Shahzadi yearned to return to India but found her passport held hostage by Nazia and her husband. Exactly 54 days post the child’s death on February 10, 2023, Shahzadi endured brutal assault, was stripped, and recorded in the buff. Under this duress, she was coerced into confessing to strangling the infant, facing threats of social vilification in Uttar Pradesh should she not comply.
Destined for Damnation: A Sentence Unfolds
Subjected to relentless torment, Shahzadi acceded to the coerced statement of guilt captured on video. Shortly thereafter, Nazia and her husband delivered her to a police station under the guise of an airport trip. The police viewed the incriminating video and consequently arrested Shahzadi. The trial proceeded in both the lower and supreme courts of Abu Dhabi, both finding her guilty and dictating her death sentence. In a poignant call from Al-Wathba prison, Shahzadi reached out to her family, revealing the potential imposition of the death penalty anytime post-September 20, 2024.
Oversights in the UAE Courts
The courts failed to act on several crucial points, such as the absence of a post-mortem to clarify the infant's death, despite hospital recommendations. Questions linger regarding how Nazia deduced the death's cause 54 days later. An exhumation for autopsy could still unveil the truth, considering the burial in Abu Dhabi. Regrettably, no competent legal representation defended Shahzadi in this foreign land.
