Sara Sharif's Murder Highlights Systemic Failures in Child Protection

The 10-year-old's death exposes long-standing issues in family courts, social services, and cultural sensitivities that left her vulnerable to years of abuse.

• Sara Sharif, aged 10, was murdered by her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool, who were convicted alongside her uncle Faisal Malik for their roles in her death.
• Despite a history of domestic abuse allegations against her father, a family court granted him custody in 2019, overriding warnings from social services and police records.
• Surrey County Council and children's services repeatedly failed to act on numerous warnings about Sara's safety, including visible injuries reported by her school shortly before her death.
• Sara was subjected to years of escalating abuse, including severe physical injuries and isolation from school, before her murder in August 2023.
• The case has reignited calls for systemic reforms, including stricter oversight of home-schooling and greater accountability within child protection services.

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