The long-awaited development in the Ariha Shah case has brought a glimmer of hope to her mother, Dhara Shah, as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing their commitment to repatriating the two-year-old child currently in the care of German child services. For over 20 months, Ariha has been placed in foster care under the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office or Jugendamt.
In response to the MEA’s statement, Dhara Shah expressed her gratitude and trust in the Indian government’s efforts to reunite her with her daughter. The firm stance taken by the government has provided them with renewed hope that he will soon be returned to India, where she rightfully belongs.
Dhara Shah acknowledged the MEA’s strong statement, emphasising that he is an Indian citizen and should be raised in a culturally familiar environment, which is in her best interest. The mother expressed her optimism that Ariha’s return to India will be expedited, especially with the shared details of a foster facility in India provided by the Ministry of External Affairs to the German authorities.
MEA’s Promise of Repatriation Sparks Hope for Ariha’s Reunion with Her Mother in India
With faith in the Indian government’s intervention, Dhara Shah requested that Prime Minister-level attention be given to the case, hoping that her daughter will be reunited with her family in India at the earliest opportunity.
The separation of Ariha Shah from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, stemmed from an accidental injury she sustained at the age of seven months in 2021. Since then, she has been in the care of German child services and placed in foster care for an extended period of over 20 months.
It is important to note that an investigation was conducted against the parents regarding allegations of “child sexual abuse.” However, the case against them was closed in February 2022 without any charges being filed, and a hospital report confirmed the absence of any signs of sexual abuse. Despite this development, his custody situation remained unresolved.
The case has garnered significant attention in bilateral relations between India and Germany. It was a topic of discussion during the visit of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to New Delhi in December of the previous year.
The latest statement from MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi highlights the consistent advocacy efforts by both the ministry and the Embassy of India in Berlin for Ariha’s repatriation to India. The MEA strongly urges German authorities to take all necessary actions to expedite Ariha’s return, emphasising her inherent right as an Indian citizen to be reunited with her family. The Indian government remains fully committed to ensuring that Ariha Shah’s well-being is prioritized and that she is brought back to India.
In a united display of concern, 59 Members of Parliament (MPs) underscored the urgency of Ariha’s return to India in a letter addressed to German Ambassador Philipp Ackerman. MPs from 19 political parties in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha conveyed their deep concerns and urged the ambassador to relay their sentiments to the German authorities involved in the case.
As the process unfolds, Ariha’s mother and supporters eagerly await a positive outcome, hoping for a prompt resolution that will facilitate the much-anticipated reunion of Ariha with her loving family in India.
The recent statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) regarding the case of Ariha Shah has instilled a sense of hope in her mother, Dhara Shah. Ariha, a two-year-old child, has been in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office or Jugendamt for more than 20 months, placed in foster care. In response to the MEA’s announcement, Dhara Shah expressed her confidence in the Indian government’s efforts to bring her daughter back to India, believing that their unwavering stance will pave the way for Ariha’s reunion with her family.
Ariha Shah was placed in the care of Germany’s Jugendamt on September 23, 2021, following an unfortunate incident. Since then, she has remained in foster care for an extended period. Speaking to the news agency PTI, Ariha’s mother shared her thoughts on the MEA’s statement, stating that it emphasizes the importance of raising the child in a culturally familiar environment as she is an Indian citizen. Dhara Shah firmly believes that this approach is in Ariha’s best interest, and she hopes for her daughter’s prompt return to India.
Rekindling a Mother’s Hope: MEA’s Promise to Reunite Ariha and Her Mother in India
Dhara Shah also disclosed that the Ministry of External Affairs has provided the German authorities with details of a foster facility in India. Expressing her trust in the Indian government’s actions, she appealed for intervention at the Prime Minister level, expressing her belief that such high-level involvement will hasten Ariha’s repatriation to her homeland. In an interview with news agency ANI, Dhara Shah voiced her confidence in the government’s commitment to resolving the matter and reuniting her with her daughter.
Ariha Shah’s separation from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, occurred after she suffered an accidental injury at the age of seven months in 2021. Following the incident, German child services took custody of Ariha, and she has since been in foster care for an extended period of over 20 months. It is worth noting that an investigation into allegations of “child sexual abuse” involving the parents was conducted; however, the case was closed in February 2022 without any charges being filed. Additionally, a hospital report confirmed the absence of any signs of sexual abuse. Despite these developments, the custody situation concerning Ariha remained unresolved.
