In a heart-wrenching tale that crossed borders, Shahzadi Khan, an Indian woman, was executed on February 15 in Abu Dhabi for allegedly killing a four-month-old child. The Delhi High Court was informed about this during a hearing of a plea by her grieving father. Justice Sachin Datta expressed deep regret over this tragic incident, while Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma confirmed the execution, stating her funeral is set for March 5.
Shahzadi was imprisoned in Abu Dhabi's infamous Al-Wathba jail, a name synonymous with 'jump' in Arabic, where her life unfairly met its abrupt end. Once caught in love's deceptive clutches, Shahzadi was not only brought to Abu Dhabi under false pretenses but was also stripped of her freedom and dignity. This woman's dreams turned to dust as she became a casualty of betrayal and deceit, ultimately leading to a fate she could not escape.
Dreaming of a New Face
Shahzadi hailed from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, India. Sent—or rather sold—to Abu Dhabi on December 19, 2021, by none other than her own lover, Uzair. Shahzadi's life had been marred since she was eight when an accident left her face scarred. Despite her hardships, she persevered, completed her education, and devoted herself to charitable work through an NGO called Roti Bank. Her singular hope was to earn enough for plastic surgery and restore her marred visage.
A Love Born on Social Media
As she toiled towards her goal, in the midst of the isolating year of 2020 brought on by the pandemic, Shahzadi's life intersected with Uzair's through social media. He promised to love her scars and all. By 2021, Uzair convinced her to travel to Abu Dhabi under the guise of facial treatment. Carrying nearly 90,000 rupees and some jewelry, she arrived, only to be sent to live with Uzair's relatives. Her harrowing reality began when she realized his deception.
Housemaid Bondage
Professor Naziya, under whose roof Shahzadi found herself, had recently given birth and needed domestic help. Uzair, acting as a pawn, scammed Shahzadi into servitude at Naziya’s home for a meager price. Educated yet shackled, Shahzadi quickly saw through the facade and yearned for real employment to fund her surgery. Repeated requests were met with denial, as Naziya refused to forgo her cheap labor.
Source: aajtak
The Child’s Death
Tragedy struck in December 2022 when a vaccination coincided with the untimely death of Naziya's infant. Accusations of negligence were hurled at the hospital, though inquest was refused, leaving the child to rest undisturbed in its grave.
Exposed and Threatened
As weeks went by, Shahzadi grew desperate to return to India, her passport withheld by Naziya and her husband. On February 10, 2023, she was brutally beaten, stripped, and coerced into confessing to infanticide, with the threat of a scandalous video looming over her.
Her Final Act
Tortured and cornered, Shahzadi falsely confessed on video. Naziya took her to a police station under false pretenses, presenting the coerced confession to seal her fate. A swift trial followed in Abu Dhabi’s courts, culminating in a conviction and death sentence.
Negligence of Justice
Observers noted that vital evidence was disregarded, including the absence of a post-mortem. Shahzadi had no effective legal representation, and questions about the child’s true cause of death went unanswered. Despite possible exoneration through re-examination, her plight was overlooked.
