Who Is Ariha Shah? Indian Toddler In German Foster Care Amid Emotional Welfare Concerns Raised By MEA News24 –
German Foreign Minister Johann Wedphul is currently on a visit to India, where he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. The main purpose of the talks was to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, but also a sensitive humanitarian issue a little girl named Ariha Shah drew attention. This is the first meeting between the foreign ministers of Germany and India after Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office.
Who Is Ariha Shah?
Ariha Shah is an Indian child of about four years who was separated from her parents Dhara and Bhavesh Shah and placed in foster care in Germany. The separation happened after Ariha was injured by her grandmother, following which German authorities took her under protection and treated the case as a case of abuse. Ariha has been in foster care for the last 46 months and is caught up in a complex legal process in Germany. Ariha’s parents say the injury was unintentional, but she is still in foster care due to the German justice system.
Foreign Minister Demanded Immediate Release
Jaishankar raised the issue of Ariha Shah during talks with the German Foreign Minister and said, “I took note of the case of Ariha, who is in the care of the German authorities. I stressed that her cultural rights should be protected and she should be raised in an Indian environment. It is necessary to resolve this matter immediately.”
The Ministry of External Affairs had also taken up the matter in October 2024, but Ariha is still in foster care. The Government of India and the Indian Embassy in Berlin are constantly making efforts to bring back this girl. Ariha was placed under the protection of the Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) of Germany on 23 September 2021, when she was only seven months old.
When Did The Indian Government Take Steps?
The Government of India showed proactiveness in this matter after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde wrote a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs. In this letter, support was sought to bring Ariha back to India.
The MEA believes that the full protection of the child’s interests is possible only in her home country, where her social and cultural identity can be safeguarded. India has repeatedly urged the German authorities to return Ariha and protect her cultural, religious and linguistic rights. The Indian Embassy has also demanded cultural contacts and consular access to the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin.
However, these demands have not been met so far. The MEA has expressed concern over Ariha’s sudden transfer to a special foster arrangement in Germany, as it may be detrimental to her emotional and mental development.
Officials say that India has a strong child welfare system in place and potential foster parents are willing to provide her a home while maintaining her socio-cultural rights.
Response From Ariha’s Parents
According to Shinde’s letter, Ariha’s parents Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, who are from Mumbai, are constantly making efforts to meet their daughter and bring her back.
Dhara Shah had earlier expressed concern, saying, “Ariha has been sent to an orphanage after the court order. We do not know with whom she will stay. We are very worried about her safety.”
She said that her German visa period is about to expire and there is a risk of losing custody permanently due to delay in the process.
Ariha was only seven months old when she was separated, and the parents are allowed to meet her once every 15-20 days.
The family also said that Ariha had suffered genital injuries, which was reported to the German authorities. The sexual abuse case was closed without any charges, but the German authorities are not returning the girl, due to which the parents are very upset and they are demanding the intervention of the Indian government in this matter.