Teachers missed warning signs to save Sara Sharif due to ‘cultural sensitivities’, local MP suggests
Concerns over “cultural sensitivities” resulted in teachers missing warning signs that Sara Sharif was in danger, the 10-year-old’s MP has said.
The schoolgirl died in her home on August 8, 2023, in Woking Surrey. Her body was found two days later in a bunk bed, covered in at least 71 external injuries including bruises, burns, and bite marks.
Her parents, Urfan Sharif, 43 and Beinash Batool, 30 were found guilty of murdering their daughter Sara on Wednesday at The Old Bailey.
Sara’s uncle Faisal Malik, 29 was not found guilty of murder but has been found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
In the final months of her life, Sara was forced to wear a hijab to hide her injuries from the “appalling” violence she was subjected to by her family members.
Jurors were told that it was “unusual” that Sara was the only person in her extended family to wear a hijab, which the prosecution alleged was worn to conceal the injuries to her face and head.
One of Sara’s teachers also said that she noticed that the 10-year-old began wearing a hijab to school, describing it as “unusual” as her mother and other family members did not wear the garment.
Will Forster, who became the MP for Woking in July, has said that when reviewing the 10-year-old’s death, every aspect of her care needs to be looked into.
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When he was asked whether there were concerns over why Sara’s school didn’t question the sudden hijab wearing after noticing the bruising, he agreed.
“Yes – everything needs to be looked at in the inquest and studied,” he told The Telegraph.
“Until we have the inquest and safeguarding review, we won’t know the full facts. As soon as we do I think we can then learn lessons.”
Sara endured two years of a “campaign of abuse,” where she suffered spinal fractures, burns caused by a domestic iron, brain injuries, and that she also faced hooding secured by adhesive tape.
A bloodstained cricket bat, belt, rope and a vacuum with Sara’s DNA were found near the family’s outhouse.
Forster told GB News yesterday that while Sara cannot be brought back, steps “must be taken” to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future, calling for an inquest.
“We need that inquest and safeguarding review so that everything is released so that it’s done in open, transparent manner,” he stated.
He emphasised that a comprehensive review of safeguarding measures was essential to protect future children.