Who is Shahzadi Khan? Father Files Court Petition, MEA Forced to Respond

New Delhi: An Indian woman, Shahzadi Khan, who was facing the death penalty in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has been executed by hanging. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed the Delhi High Court about the execution on Monday. The 33-year-old woman from Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, was accused of killing a four-month-old child in Abu Dhabi.

The MEA told the court that Shahzadi Khan was hanged on February 15, 2025, as per UAE laws and regulations. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma stated that the Indian embassy in UAE received official confirmation of the execution from the UAE government on February 28.

"The authorities are providing all possible assistance, and her funeral is scheduled for March 5, 2025," ASG Sharma said.

The case came to light after Shahzadi Khan's father, Shabbir Khan, approached the Delhi High Court seeking information about his daughter’s legal status and well-being. After hearing the submissions from the MEA, the court disposed of the petition, calling it a "sad and unfortunate" incident.

Shahzadi Khan Case: A Timeline of Events

In connection with the death of a kid in her custody, Shahzadi Khan was given a death sentence and placed in Al Wathba Jail in Abu Dhabi.

Shabbir Khan's suit claims that his daughter had a valid work visa and had visited Abu Dhabi in December 2021. Shahzadi Khan was tasked with taking care of her employer's newborn son in August 2022. On December 7, 2022, the youngster passed away following a normal vaccine.

The petition also referenced a video recording allegedly showing Khan confessing to the child’s murder in December 2023. However, the petition claimed that the confession was coerced through torture and abuse by her employer and their family. It also stated that the infant’s parents refused a post-mortem and signed an agreement to halt further investigation.

Legal Battle and Execution

Shabbir Khan alleged that while the Indian embassy provided legal advice to his daughter, she was pressured to confess and denied necessary assistance.

• September 2023: Khan's appeal was rejected, and the death sentence was upheld on February 28, 2024.
• May 2024: A fresh mercy petition was filed.
• February 14, 2025: Khan informed her father via phone call about her impending execution.
• February 15, 2025: She was hanged as per UAE law.
• February 28, 2025: The Indian embassy received official confirmation of her execution.

Following this, Shabbir Khan made a formal request to the MEA on February 20, 2025, to check on his daughter’s legal status, but received no update until after her execution.