Indian woman on death row for killing a child executed in UAE

Indian woman Shahzadi Khan, who was facing a death sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for killing a child, has been executed, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The XP Division of the Ministry of External Affairs said that the UAE authorities intimated them about the execution on February 28, 2025.

An Indian national, Shahzadi, was convicted on charges of murder of an infant and sentenced to death in the UAE. The highest court of the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentence. The Embassy provided all possible legal assistance to Shahzadi, including sending mercy…

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2025

“An Indian national, Shahzadi, was convicted on charges of murder of an infant and sentenced to death in the UAE. The highest court of the UAE, the Court of Cassation, upheld the sentence,” XP Division, MEA, in a statement on Monday.

The statement added that the Embassy provided all possible legal assistance to Shahzadi, including sending mercy petitions and pardon requests to the UAE government.

“The UAE authorities intimated to the Embassy on February 28, 2025 that the sentence of Shahzadi has been carried out in accordance with local laws. The family of Shahzadi has been informed of the matter,” added the statement.

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Earlier on Monday, the foreign ministry informed the Delhi High Court that Shahzadi Khan was executed on February 15, 2025, in accordance with the laws and regulations of UAE.

According to a NDTV report, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma said the Indian embassy in UAE received an official communication about Khan’s execution from the government on February 28.

“Authorities are extending all possible assistance and that her cremation is scheduled for March 5, 2025,” NDTV quoted Sharma as saying.

This came after Khan’s father Shabbir Khan approached the court seeking to access information regarding the exact current legal status and well-being of his daughter.

Following the Ministry’s submissions, the court disposed of the plea calling it a “sad and unfortunate” incident.

The case

Shahzadi Khan, sentenced to death for the death of a child under her care, was imprisoned in Abu Dhabi’s Al Wathba jail. Her father, Shabbir Khan, revealed in his petition that she travelled to Abu Dhabi in December 2021 with a legal visa.

In August 2022, Khan became a caregiver for a newborn, who tragically died on December 7, 2022, after routine vaccinations.

The petition mentioned a video in which Khan allegedly confessed to the child’s murder in December 2023; however, it argued that the confession was coerced through torture by her employer and family.

It also noted that the infant’s parents refused a postmortem and waived further investigation into the death.

While the Indian Embassy provided legal counsel, Khan reportedly faced pressure to confess and lacked proper representation.

Khan’s appeal was dismissed in September 2023, and her death sentence was upheld on February 28, 2024.

After filing a new mercy petition in May 2024, Shabbir received a call from his daughter on February 14, 2025, indicating an imminent execution.

He formally requested an inquiry into her legal status and wellbeing from the Foreign Ministry on February 20, 2025, but has yet to receive a response.

With inputs from agencies