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Outrage as Convicted Parents Appeal Sentences in the Tragic Death of 10-Year-Old Sara Sharif
Justice for Sara? Her father, stepmother, and uncle—convicted for her horrific abuse and murder—are now appealing their prison sentences. Meanwhile, the UK government tightens homeschooling rules after social services failed to intervene.
ND
by News Desk
2025-03-13
Outrage as Convicted Parents Appeal Sentences in the Tragic Death of 10-Year-Old Sara Sharif

The brutal murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif shocked the UK, revealing a horrifying tale of abuse and a system that failed to protect her. Now, her father, stepmother, and uncle—convicted for their roles in her suffering—are appealing their sentences, sparking fresh outrage.

 

A Tragic Discovery

In August 2023, authorities found Sara’s lifeless body in her bed, her small frame covered in bruises, bite marks, burns, and broken bones. A London court later heard the gruesome details: the little girl had suffered unimaginable abuse, including being scalded with boiling water, beaten with a metal pole and cricket bat, and tied up with parcel tape, rope, and a plastic bag over her head.

 

Her father, 43-year-old Urfan Sharif, stepmother, 30-year-old Beinash Batool, and uncle, 29-year-old Faisal Malik, fled to Pakistan the day after she died, leaving behind five other children. A month later, they were arrested upon their return to the UK.

 

Sentences Under Appeal

In December, Judge John Cavanagh sentenced Sharif to 40 years in prison, condemning his “acts of extreme cruelty” and lack of remorse. Batool received 33 years, and Malik was sentenced to 16 years for causing or allowing Sara’s death.

 

Despite the overwhelming evidence, the three are now appealing their sentences at the Royal Courts of Justice. Meanwhile, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby is pushing for a harsher punishment for Sharif, calling his sentence “unduly lenient.”

 

A System That Failed

The case has fueled public anger, not just at the perpetrators but also at the social services that failed to intervene. Sara had been removed from school four months before her death, despite teachers raising concerns about bruises on her body—marks she desperately tried to hide under a hijab.

 

In 2019, despite Sharif’s known history of abuse, a judge awarded him custody of Sara and her brother. Now, in the wake of the tragedy, the UK government is tightening homeschooling regulations to prevent similar failures.

 

Sara’s body was repatriated to Poland, where her mother, Olga, laid her to rest. But for many, the fight for justice continues, as calls grow louder to ensure that her suffering was not in vain.
Tagged:

ChildProtection

JusticeForSara

UKCrime

StopAbuse
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