Grandfather of Sara Sharif urges his son to hand himself in
GuardianAug 12, 2023
Sara Sharif — a 10-year-old girl who was found dead at her Surrey home in the UK last August — was forced by her father, Urfan Sharif, to do sit-ups all night because she had been "naughty" and hid his keys, jurors at the Old Bailey heard on Thursday.Sara Sharif — a 10-year-old girl who was found dead at her Surrey home in the UK last August — was reportedly forced by her father, Urfan Sharif, to do sit-ups all night because she had been "naughty" and hid his keys, jurors at the Old Bailey heard on Thursday.
Sara's stepmother, Beinash Batool — who, along with Urfan and his brother Faisal Malik, is under trial for the girl's murder — reportedly informed her sister Qandeela Saboohi about the physical abuse she suffered in Urfan's hand via WhatsApp messages in 2020 and 2023.Sara's stepmother, Beinash Batool — who, along with Urfan and his brother Faisal Malik, is under trial for the girl's murder — reportedly informed her sister Qandeela Saboohi about the physical abuse she suffered in Urfan's hand in WhatsApp messages made between 2020 and 2023.
In one such message, Beinash referred to an image of a bruised Sara Sharif, saying, "You haven't even seen her body, it's a whole lot worse." Before her death, Urfan placed a "homemade hood" over Sara's head, restrained her, beat her with a cricket bat, and burned her with an iron.In one such message, Beinash referred to an image of a bruised Sara Sharif, saying, "You haven't even seen her body. It's a whole lot worse."
Sara Sharif's tragic death must not be forgotten, for her suffering symbolizes a call for urgent reform to protect all children. Allegedly tortured and silenced, her young life was surrounded by adults who witnessed her abuse, yet remained silent. AsSociety a society, we can't afford complacency, norand doescriminal thejustice notionin thatthis "reasonablecase chastisement"must haveprevail any place in a world that values the innocence and rights of children.
This incidenttragic case highlights a harrowinglarger systemic failure inwhen childit safeguardingcomes to children's services in the UK. SheSara Sharif was failed by an overwhelmed, under-resourced, rigid bureaucracy, unable to act in time. Despite prior reforms and pleas for resources, children like Sara remain neglected in a crisis-laden system. Her— deaththere's underscores a desperate need for accountability and a radical overhaul inof safeguardingthese vulnerablesafety childrennets.