Indian Domestic Worker Executed in UAE Amid Controversy

Wrongly Accused? Delhi High Court Petitioned Over Shahzadi Khan’s Execution in UAE

Shahzadi Khan, an Indian domestic worker, was pronounced dead on February 15, 2025, in one of the United Arab Emirates states due to the conviction of murdering her employer's baby. Her family claims that she has been wrongly accused and did not have any fair trial.

According to them, the baby, four months old, died because of an improper vaccination and not suffocation. The case has fueled discussions about legal protections for foreign migrant workers.

A Journey That Went Dark

Khan is originally from Uttar Pradesh and has been in Abu Dhabi since December 2021. She intended to get some cosmetic procedure done, which was lost as she ended up tending to the newborn of an Indian family. According to her loved ones, she has formed a bond with that child and often showed the child to them during video calls. Then everything turned on December 7, 2022, as the baby died just after hours from vaccination.

She was accused of murdering the child by her employer, while a fast-tracked legal process took place, which her family believes did not follow any of the correct judiciary processes. They say that a thorough investigation and medical evidence are not mentioned as being present.

A Trial Marred by Allegations of Coercion

Much of the case against Khan hinged on a confession video which her family claims was coerced. One point of contention was that a post-mortem examination was not carried out, which could have determined the actual cause of death. Yet the trial proceeded, and in July 2023, Khan was sentenced to death.

Those avenues of appeal closed off in February 2024 when the last one failed. Just days later, she made a frantic call home, saying she was being moved to a solitary cell. That was the last her family heard from her.

Execution in Secrecy Sparks Outrage

Without knowledge of her fate, the Khan family petitioned the Delhi High Court. On March 3, Indian authorities confirmed that the execution had already been carried out. The secrecy surrounding the case, the lack of diplomatic intervention, and the absence of legal support have all combined to create public outrage.

Currently, there are 54 Indians on death row abroad, with 29 of them in the UAE. Her story has again brought to light the precarious situation in which migration turns into a nightmare for innocent people in foreign justice systems, often leading to wrongful convictions, forced confessions, trials without proper defense, and more.

Calls for Justice and Dignified Disposal

Her brother, Shamsher Khan, now demands an independent investigation into the case. He is also pursuing the repatriation of her body for dignified disposal in India. This loss has amplified the rhetoric on labor violations, migrant treatment, and broader protections needed in foreign criminal arenas.

It raises fundamental issues regarding Indian governmental responsibility in protecting its citizens abroad. Advocates are calling for stronger diplomatic actions, improved legal aid, and monitoring of Indian workers' treatment in countries with strict judicial systems.