In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Shahjadi, a woman from Uttar Pradesh, India, is set to be executed in Abu Dhabi within the next 24 hours. Her family is desperately appealing to the Indian government and authorities to intervene and save her life. Shahjadi’s tragic journey began when she eloped with a man she loved, only to be betrayed and sold into servitude in the UAE.
Shahjadi, a resident of Mulgi village in Uttar Pradesh, had faced numerous challenges in her life. As a child, she suffered severe burns in a kitchen accident, leaving her with permanent scars. Despite her struggles, she found hope in 2020 when she met Uzer, a man from Agra, through social media. Their friendship blossomed into love, and Uzer promised to marry her, provide proper medical treatment, and build a happy life together. Trusting him, Shahjadi left her home in 2021 to elope with him.
However, her dreams were shattered soon after. Uzer allegedly sold her to a couple, Faiz and Nadia, who took her to Abu Dhabi. There, Shahjadi worked as a maid and caretaker for their children. Her life took a devastating turn when the couple’s four-month-old baby died unexpectedly. Shahjadi was accused of negligence and held responsible for the infant’s death. Despite her claims that the child’s death was due to medical negligence, an Abu Dhabi court convicted her and sentenced her to death.
Currently imprisoned in Al Wathba Jail, Shahjadi was granted a final wish to speak to her family before her execution. On Sunday, she broke down in tears during a phone call with her father, Sabir Khan, expressing her despair and bidding farewell to her loved ones. “She kept crying and saying, ‘We will never see or speak to each other again,’” Sabir recounted.
Sabir Khan, a distraught father, has appealed to the district administration, the central government, and even the President of India to save his daughter. With only 24 hours left before the execution, he is desperate for any intervention that could spare Shahjadi’s life. “I don’t know what to do in such a short time,” he said, his voice filled with helplessness.
The case has drawn attention to the plight of vulnerable individuals trafficked abroad and the urgent need for diplomatic intervention in such situations. Shahjadi’s family continues to cling to hope, praying for a miracle to save their daughter from the gallows.
