India Pursues Ariha Shah's Case with German Authorities, Prioritizing Cultural Needs

India continues to pursue the case of Ariha Shah, an Indian child who has been in German foster care for nearly five years, with German authorities. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Friday that Indian diplomats are actively monitoring the child's well-being and ensuring her cultural needs are met.

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On the Ariha Shah case, I don't have an update on this particular matter. But let me assure you that we have been taking care of her cultural needs and the embassy has been in touch with her and the German authorities on this subject.

Ariha was placed in foster care in September 2021 at seven months old after her grandmother accidentally injured her. Since then, she has been moved across five different foster homes in Germany. The "Save Ariha Team," a group advocating for her return, has expressed deep concern over her prolonged separation from her family and urged diplomatic intervention for her repatriation.

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We have been in discussions with the German government, all the German authorities, their embassy here in Delhi, and the German government in Berlin, and all the agencies involved, for quite some time.

Indian officials have emphasized a humanitarian approach to the case, engaging in sustained discussions with various German authorities. The matter was also raised with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during his visit to India in January. Despite the closure of police cases against her parents in February 2022, Ariha remains under the custody of German Child Services (Jugendamt) in Berlin, a situation that the Indian government and advocacy groups are working to resolve.

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This case was, at one point, a legal matter, but we believe that ultimately, it should be approached keeping in mind the humanitarian issues involved.