The tragic murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif revealed significant failures in the child protection system. Her father, Urfan Sharif (42) and stepmother, Beinash Batool (30), received life sentences for her murder. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik (29), received a 16-year sentence for causing or allowing her death. Justice John Cavanagh stated that Sara’s death resulted from “years of neglect, frequent assaults and what can only be described as the torture of this small child.”
During the trial, prosecutors shared shocking details. Urfan Sharif confessed to UK police that he “legally punished” Sara. He admitted, “I beat her up too much,” though he claimed he didn’t mean to kill her. On August 10, 2023, police discovered Sara’s body under a blanket in her bunk bed. She had over 70 fresh injuries, including burns, fractures and bite marks, along with older wounds. After her death, Sharif, Batool and Malik fled to Pakistan with their five other children.
The court also revealed that Sara’s father made her wear a hijab to hide her bruises. Despite her suffering, a video taken two days before her death showed her dancing and smiling. Her smile regardless of the abuse showed nothing but bravery.
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Despite multiple warnings, social services failed to intervene. Her father removed her from school to avoid investigations, leaving her without an education. Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, called this a “heartbreaking reminder” of the system’s weaknesses. She added, “We have failed time and time again to correct them.”
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, condemned the perpetrators. She called them “cowards, sadists and executioners” and added, “She is now an angel who looks down on us from heaven. She is no longer experiencing violence.” In response, Surrey County Council pledged to review the case and look at how they could have protected Sara.
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