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The MEA raised concerns about Ariha’s sudden transfer to specialized foster care in Germany, warning it could negatively impact her emotional and mental well-being
The MEA emphasized that the child’s best interests can only be fully safeguarded in her home country. (News18 Hindi)
German Foreign Minister Johann Wedfful is visiting India, where he met with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi. While the talks primarily focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations, attention was also drawn to a sensitive human-interest issue—the case of a young girl named Ariha Shah.
This marks the first meeting between the German and Indian foreign ministers since Chancellor Friedrich Merz took office.
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Who Is Ariha Shah?
Ariha Shah, an Indian girl of about four years, has been separated from her parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, and placed in German foster care. The separation occurred after an incident where Ariha was injured by her grandmother, leading German authorities to take her into protective custody, classifying the situation as a case of abuse. Ariha has been in foster care for 46 months, entangled in a complex legal case in Germany.
Her parents have maintained that the injury was accidental, but the legal proceedings in Germany have prolonged her stay in foster care.
Foreign Minister Calls For Immediate Release
Jaishankar brought up the case of Ariha Shah during talks with the German Foreign Minister, stating, “I raised the issue of Ariha Shah, an Indian girl under German authorities’ care for some time. I stressed the need to protect her cultural rights and ensure her upbringing in an Indian environment. This matter should be resolved without delay.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had also raised Ariha’s case in talks held in October 2024, yet she remains in foster care. The MEA and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been persistently advocating for the return of the baby, who was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) on September 23, 2021 when she was seven months old.
When Did Indian Government Step In?
The Government of India had stepped in following a letter from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to the Ministry of External Affairs, urging support for Ariha Shah. The letter highlighted the parents’ plea to bring Ariha back home.
The MEA emphasized that the child’s best interests can only be fully safeguarded in her home country, where her socio-cultural rights can be protected. India has repeatedly requested German authorities to return Ariha and ensure her access to her cultural, religious, and linguistic background. The Indian Embassy had also sought consular access and opportunities for cultural immersion at the Indian Cultural Centre in Berlin.
However, these requests have so far not been fulfilled. The MEA had expressed concern over Ariha’s abrupt transfer to a specialized foster care arrangement in Germany, describing the process as potentially harmful to her emotional and mental development.
Officials also noted that India has a strong child welfare system and that prospective foster parents are ready to provide a home that preserves her socio-cultural identity.
Ariha’s Parents Spoke Out
According to Shinde’s letter to S. Jaishankar, Ariha’s parents, Dhara and Bhavesh Shah of Mumbai, have been tirelessly working to reunite with her.
Earlier, Dhara Shah had expressed deep worry, saying, “Based on the court order there, Ariha has now been sent to an orphanage. We have no idea about the people she will live with. We are extremely concerned for her safety.”
She mentioned that with their German visas expiring, delays in the process could result in permanent loss of custody.
Ariha was just seven months old when separated from her parents, who have been allowed visits only once every 15–20 days.
The family also revealed that Ariha sustained a genital injury, which was reported to German authorities. Despite the sexual assault case being closed without charges against them, the German authorities have not returned the child, leaving the parents in distress and seeking intervention from the Indian government.
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