Frankfurt: The Indian community in Germany staged a protest for the repatriation of two-year-old Ariha Shah currently living in foster care in Berlin, back to India. Approximately 150 to 200 Indians came together in Frankfurt, voicing their concerns over Ariha’s custody situation, which has been ongoing since September 23, 2021.
The issue of Ariha’s custody had caught the attention of both Indian and German authorities, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar having raised the matter with his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, back in December of the previous year.
On July 15, protestors in Frankfurt took a stand to draw attention to the violation of Ariha’s cultural rights and expressed dissatisfaction with the Indian government’s appeal being rejected. Ariha, being of Indian heritage, has become the focal point of a custody battle, and the protestors stressed the urgent need to respect and protect her cultural identity. They believe in preserving cultural rights regardless of borders and aimed to amplify their voices through the peaceful gathering.
In June, Dhara Shah, Ariha’s mother, expressed her trust in the Government of India, and she expressed hope that her daughter could return to India if there was a Prime Minister-level intervention in the case.
Addressing the situation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that the MEA and the Embassy of India in Berlin have been continuously advocating for Ariha Shah’s return to India.
Ariha’s mother previously shared with reporters that her daughter had been accidentally injured by her grandmother in September 2021, which led to German authorities taking her into foster care. The situation has since sparked an emotional plea for Ariha’s repatriation by the Indian community in Germany.
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