“MEA Confirms India Exhausted All Legal Avenues for Indian National Executed in UAE” – www.lokmattimes.com

On March 3, the Indian Embassy in the UAE shared details about the legal assistance it provided to Shahzadi, an Indian woman executed in the UAE. This included sending mercy petitions to the UAE government, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Shahzadi had been convicted of murder, specifically for the death of an infant, and was sentenced to death. The UAE’s top court, the Court of Cassation, confirmed the death sentence.

On February 28, the UAE authorities informed the Embassy that Shahzadi’s execution had been carried out as per local laws. Her family was notified shortly after. Tragically, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) revealed in court that Shahzadi was executed on February 15.

The ASG emphasized that the Indian authorities were supporting her family during this difficult time. Shahzadi’s cremation is planned for March 5, and her father, Shabbir Khan, had sought help from the MEA regarding his daughter’s situation.

Documents presented in court showed that the Indian Embassy was notified on February 28 that the execution was completed. Shabbir Khan was informed the same day and was told he could come to the UAE for his daughter’s last rites. The MEA also provided him with a contact number for the Embassy.

Shahzadi, 33, originally from Banda district in Uttar Pradesh, had worked as a caregiver in Abu Dhabi. In December 2021, she traveled to the UAE after obtaining her visa. In August 2022, she began taking care of an infant, who unfortunately died shortly after receiving vaccinations on December 7, 2022.

Even though a postmortem was recommended, the infant’s parents chose not to pursue it, signing a waiver. However, in February 2023, a video surfaced, allegedly showing Shahzadi confessing to the crime. She claimed this confession was coerced through torture.

Shahzadi was arrested on February 10, 2023, and later sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. Although the Indian Embassy provided legal counsel, it has been reported that they pressured her to confess and did not offer adequate representation.

Her appeal in September 2023 was rejected, and the death penalty was upheld a few months later. Despite her father’s attempts to seek clemency, he received confusing responses and took further action in May 2024. When he reached out for clarity regarding her fate on February 20, 2025, he received no updates.