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 reportedly forced by her father, Urfan Sharif, to do sit-ups all night because she had been "naughty" and had hidden 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 at the hands of Urfan hand in WhatsApp messages made between 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 allegedly suffered at the hands of Urfan 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."
Sara Sharif's tragic death must not be forgotten. Allegedly tortured and silenced, her young life was surrounded by adults who witnessed her abuse, yet remained silent. Society can't afford complacency, and criminal justice in this case must prevail in a world that values the innocence and rights of children.
This tragic case highlights a larger systemic failure when it comes to children's services in the UK. Sara 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 — there's a need for a radical overhaul of these safety nets.