Sara Sharif: Court Hears More Details of Alleged Abuse

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Above: A general view of the Old Bailey, also known as the Central Criminal Court. Image copyright: Surrey Police/PA via the Telegraph

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 allegedly suffered at the hands of Urfan in WhatsApp messages made between 2020 and 2023.

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The Spin

Narrative A

Sara Sharif's tragic death must not be forgotten. The ten-year-old girl, whose life was marked by alleged abuse, was failed by those adults around her who witnessed her suffering yet remained silent. Society can't afford complacency, and must remain vigilant in protecting vulnerable children. Justice must be pursued to uphold every child's fundamental right to safety and well-being.

Narrative B

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.

Sacpa

The Times

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