Ariha Shah, who was born in Berlin, Germany in 2021, is the daughter of Bhavesh Shah, a software engineer from Gujarat. Bhavesh moved to Berlin in 2018 along with Ariha’s mother, Dhara Shah. Recently, Dhara Shah, the mother of the Indian baby who is currently in a German foster home, organized a protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. She urged the German authorities to allow Ariha to celebrate India’s Independence Day on August 15 with the Indian community in Germany, in order to safeguard her cultural rights.
Dhara Shah expressed her intention to visit the German embassy and make a request to the German ambassador. She emphasized that the upcoming 15th of August is a significant day for every Indian to celebrate their independence, and Ariha should not be deprived of this right. Dhara Shah further stated that their primary objective in gathering is to ensure that Ariha’s cultural rights are preserved. She mentioned that in June of this year, Ariha’s rights were transferred to German child services, and they were informed recently that all visitation has been suspended due to a lack of transportation arrangements. Additionally, the gifts they had given Ariha during previous visitations were returned. The family is deeply concerned about Ariha’s whereabouts and well-being, as her safety is their utmost priority.
Ariha Shah, born in Berlin in 2021, is a child who was taken into foster care by German authorities when she was seven months old. The authorities alleged that her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, had abused her. As a result of an accidental injury, Ariha was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office. This situation has caused tension in bilateral relations. According to Dhara, Ariha’s grandmother accidentally caused an injury to the child’s outer genital area during a visit to the family in Berlin.
Upon Ariha’s admission to the hospital, her family promptly informed the German authorities, suspecting a potential sexual assault case. Subsequently, Ariha was placed under foster care, and her parents were granted limited visitation rights every two weeks. Furthermore, the German authorities pressed charges of child sexual abuse against her parents.Although the assault charges were eventually dropped by the German authorities, her parents were still held accountable for negligence.
In February 2022, the cases against them were dismissed, and no formal charges were filed.Despite the resolution of the legal proceedings, Ariha remained separated from her parents, as Jugendamt initiated a civil custody case to terminate their parental rights and gain custody of Ariha. Consequently, the couple has been engaged in an ongoing legal battle ever since.
India has urged Germany to expedite the repatriation of the infant, emphasizing the significance of ensuring that the child grows up in an environment that aligns with her linguistic, religious, cultural, and social background. German authorities have explained that the child was placed under foster care due to alleged harassment by her Indian parents. Previously, the Jugendamt had relocated Ariha to a specialized facility in Berlin catering to children with special needs, where she continues to reside presently.