How Sara Sharif’s Father Exploited EU Rules to Stay in the UK and Avoid Deportation
The tragic case of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has sent shockwaves through the UK, exposing severe failings in the immigration and social care systems.
Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, has been found guilty of her murder, alongside her stepmother, Beinash Batool. Their horrifying crimes have left many questioning how such events were allowed to happen.
Urfan Sharif managed to remain in the UK by exploiting EU immigration rules through a sham marriage with a Polish woman.
This loophole allowed him to avoid deportation and establish himself in a £500,000 house in Woking. Despite not working, he and his family were able to remain in the country, where Sara endured over two years of horrific abuse.
Reports describe Sara’s unimaginable suffering, including being hooded, burned, and beaten, with her body showing 70 injuries and 25 fractures.
Neighbors reported hearing gut-wrenching screams from the home for two years. Teachers raised concerns about bruises on Sara’s body, yet social services failed to intervene.
On the day after Sara’s death in 2023, Sharif and Batool fled to Pakistan with their other children, leaving Sara’s battered body behind. It took months of international cooperation to bring them back to the UK to face justice. Their trial revealed shocking details of abuse, as well as WhatsApp messages from Batool describing the torment Sara faced.
In an emotional discussion on Talk, presenter Jeremy Kyle and commentator Russell Quirk expressed outrage at the systemic failures that allowed this tragedy to occur. Kyle stated, “This story is beyond harrowing. A man who should never have been in this country used the system to stay, and social services failed to protect a vulnerable child. It’s unacceptable.”
Quirk added, “We’ve seen these failures before. Reports were made, screams were heard, teachers noticed bruises—and yet nothing was done. This child was tortured to death in plain sight.”
Public outrage has focused on both the failings of social services and the leniency of immigration laws. Many argue that stricter immigration controls could have prevented Sharif from remaining in the UK.
Critics also blame social services for ignoring clear warning signs, allowing Sara’s suffering to continue unchecked.
Sentencing for Sharif, Batool, and Faisal Malik, who was found guilty of causing or allowing Sara’s death, is expected next week. Many are calling for the harshest possible penalties, with some even suggesting the reinstatement of capital punishment for such heinous crimes.
One listener commented, “Why should taxpayers pay to keep monsters like this alive in prison? They took an innocent life and deserve the ultimate punishment.”
This case has reignited debates about the failings of Britain’s social care system. Despite multiple reports from neighbors, teachers, and others, no action was taken to remove Sara from her abusive environment. Critics argue that fear of cultural or racial sensitivities may have played a role in the inaction.
A voice note from a listener summed up public frustration: “If Ofsted investigates childminders within 24 hours of a complaint, why can’t social services act when children’s lives are clearly at risk? This failure cost Sara her life.”
The case also highlights broader issues with the justice system. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of reduced sentences and parole, which could see Sharif and Batool released in the future.
Quirk remarked, “These people shouldn’t see the light of day again. The system needs to send a clear message: crimes like this will not be tolerated.”
As the nation mourns Sara’s tragic death, calls for reform are growing louder. There is an urgent need for stricter immigration policies, greater accountability within social services, and tougher sentencing for those who commit such horrific crimes.
For Sara Sharif, a cheerful little girl who endured unimaginable pain, the public demands justice and a commitment to ensuring such a tragedy never happens again.
