| Ariha Shah, an Indian girl, was separated from her parents by German authorities at seven months old on September 23, 2021. The Jugendamt, German Child Services, placed her in foster care due to a reported suspicion of sexual assault. |
| Her family originates from Gujarat, India, but her father moved to Berlin, Germany, for work in 2018. |
| At seven months old, Ariha's grandparents visited her, and an accidental injury occurred in her private area while in her grandmother's care. |
| Her parents became worried upon finding blood in her diaper, leading them to seek medical help. Subsequently, suspicions of abuse arose, and the German Child Services intervened, launching an investigation into the parents. |
| The case against Ariha's parents for alleged child sexual abuse was eventually dropped, with negligence being suggested instead. |
| Despite the legal closure without charges, Ariha remained separated from her parents as the Jugendamt pursued a civil custody case aiming to terminate parental rights. |
| A court-appointed psychologist recommended specialized care for Ariha with limited visits to one parent due to practical issues such as visa concerns. |
| Before a court ruling was reached, Ariha was relocated by the Jugendamt to a facility for children with special needs. |
| Efforts have been made by the Ministry of External Affairs to repatriate Ariha back to India while emphasizing her cultural background. |
| Members of Parliament from different parties joined to appeal for Ariha's repatriation in a letter to the German ambassador in 2023. |
| The case of Ariha Shah has commonalities with Sagarika Chakraborty's situation, where Norwegian authorities took custody of her children in 2011. |
