Sara Sharif: Court Hears More Details of Alleged Abuse
UKSara Sharif: 10-Year-Old'sCourt KillerHears DadMore MadeDetails Herof DoAlleged Sit Ups All NightAbuse
The Facts
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.
The Spin
Sara Sharif's tragic death must not be forgotten. AllegedlyThe torturedten-year-old and silencedgirl, herwhose young life was surroundedmarked by alleged abuse, was failed by those adults around her who witnessed her abuse,suffering yet remained silent. Society can't afford complacency, and criminalmust justiceremain vigilant in thisprotecting casevulnerable children. Justice must prevailbe inpursued ato worlduphold thatevery valueschild's thefundamental innocenceright andto rightssafety ofand childrenwell-being.
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.