Delhi High Court informed of Indian woman's execution in Abu Dhabi following murder conviction

Indian Woman Executed in UAE for Murder, Leaving Family Devastated and Questions Unanswered

The Delhi High Court received official confirmation this week about the execution of an Indian domestic worker in Abu Dhabi, a tragic culmination of a legal case that has left her family shattered and human rights activists questioning the fairness of her trial. The 38-year-old woman from Kerala, identified only as Priya to protect her family's privacy, was put to death last week after being convicted of murdering her employer in 2019.  

Her family in India maintains her innocence, claiming she was denied proper legal representation and struggled to understand court proceedings conducted entirely in Arabic. "She went there to earn money for our father's medical treatment, not to die like this," her younger brother Sobhan told reporters outside the courthouse, his voice breaking with emotion. "For four years we begged everyone for help - the embassy, the government, human rights groups. Now we're just begging for her body to be brought home."  

Documents submitted to the Delhi High Court reveal troubling gaps in Priya's defense. Court-appointed translators were reportedly unavailable for key hearings, and her confession was allegedly obtained under duress. The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi confirmed providing consular assistance but acknowledged limitations in intervening in another country's judicial process.  

The case has cast a harsh light on the vulnerabilities faced by India's migrant workers in Gulf countries, particularly women employed as domestic help. Activists point to systemic issues including language barriers, lack of awareness of legal rights, and power imbalances that often leave workers defenseless in foreign legal systems.  

As the High Court directs the Indian government to submit a full report on its efforts to assist Priya, her village in Kerala prepares to receive her remains. Neighbors remember a bright, ambitious woman who dropped out of college to support her family. "She sent money every month, even bought books for the local school," recalled a childhood friend. "This wasn't the homecoming we imagined for her."  

The execution has sparked renewed calls for better protections for Indian workers abroad, with demands for mandatory legal orientation programs, 24/7 emergency helplines, and more robust government intervention in capital punishment cases involving Indian citizens. For Priya's family, these reforms come too late, their grief compounded by questions about whether more could have been done to save her life.