An Indian woman, Shahzadi Khan, who was under death sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been put to death, the Foreign Ministry told the Delhi High Court on Monday. The 33-year-old Uttar Pradesh woman from Banda district was convicted of murder in Abu Dhabi for killing a four-month-old child.
Khan was put to death on February 15, 2025, under UAE laws, the Foreign Ministry told court. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma reported that an official notice had been received by the Indian embassy in the UAE about her execution on February 28.
“Authorities are providing all help possible, and she is being cremated on March 5, 2025,” Sharma said.
This development followed a move by Khan’s father, Shabbir Khan, who went to the Delhi High Court, requesting information on the legality and well-being of his daughter. On going through the response of the Ministry, the court referred to the event as “sad and unfortunate” and rejected the plea.
Shahzadi Khan’s Case and Family’s Allegations
Shahzadi Khan was imprisoned in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba jail and sentenced to death over allegations that she caused the death of a child under her care.
She had visited Abu Dhabi in December 2021 on a lawful work visa, as per her father’s petition. In August 2022, the employer delivered a son, and Khan was appointed as the child’s caretaker. The baby, however, died on December 7, 2022, just after receiving routine vaccinations.
The petition also referred to a video recording where Khan purportedly admitted to the murder of the infant in December 2023. The family, however, alleged that the confession was obtained through torture and abuse by her employer and their family members.
The plea also accused the parents of the infant of denying permission for a postmortem and signing an agreement relinquishing further investigation into the death of the child.
Legal Battle and Execution
Shabbir Khan contended that although the Indian Embassy arranged for his daughter to have legal counsel, she was forced to confess to murder and was not given proper defense.
Her September 2023 appeal was dismissed, and the death penalty was confirmed on February 28, 2024. No relief was forthcoming despite the filing of a fresh mercy petition in May 2024.
Shahzadi Khan telephoned her father in prison on February 14, 2025, and hinted that her execution was approaching. Shabbir Khan again filed a proper request to the Foreign Ministry on February 20, 2025, inquiring about the latest legal developments in her case. Yet no new information had been shared until her execution had been officially verified