The Delhi High Court was informed on Monday that an Indian woman sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi for the supposed murder of a four-month-old infant had already been executed on February 15, during a hearing regarding her father’s request about her well-being.
Upon receiving the news about the development, Justice Sachin Datta described it as “very unfortunate.”
“It is over. She was executed on February 15. Her last rites will be held on March 5,” Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the court.
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The filing occurred during a hearing concerning a request by the woman’s 33-year-old father wanting to inquire about her well-being.
On February 10, 2023, Shahzadi Khan was delivered to the Abu Dhabi police and on July 31, 2023, she received a death sentence. She was housed in the Al Wathba prison.
Shabbir Khan, a resident of Banda in Uttar Pradesh, stated that there was “deep uncertainty” about his daughter Shahzadi’s condition, and his ongoing requests to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for clarification yielded no results.
The plea additionally claimed that Shahzadi received insufficient legal representation in the local courts regarding the supposed murder of her employer’s four-month-old baby and that she was coerced into confessing, resulting in the death penalty being imposed on her.
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During the hearing, the lawyer for the petitioner stated that his sole request was to determine if his daughter was alive or if she had been executed.
He mentioned that on February 14, Shahzadi had contacted the family from prison, stating she would be executed in a day or two, and this would be her final call. Since that time, they did not know about her welfare, he stated.
The Centre’s lawyer informed the court that the Embassy representatives and the petitioner were in communication, and preparations were being undertaken to allow the family to participate in their daughter’s final ceremonies in Abu Dhabi.
