Lucknow: Mohammad Taj, the 12-year-old son of the death row convict Shabnam Ali, has urged President Ram Nath Kovind to forgive to commute her mother’s death sentence.
Shabnam was sentenced to death for killing her seven family members including a baby in 2008 as they opposed her relationship with her paramour in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh.
Shabnam could be the first-ever woman convict to be hanged in independent India. The woman is currently lodged in Rampur jail.
Taj held up a slate stating, “President uncle ji, please forgive my mother Shabnam.”
The 12-year-old boy is living with her foster parent Usman Saifi, who was once a junior of Shabnam in the college. Saifi now works as a journalist and has met Taj’s mother in jail several times.
A court in Amroha is yet to decide on the date of execution of Shabnam. However, preparations are underway in Mathura for possible hanging. Mathura is the only jail in the country which has a chamber for executing women.
Shabnam, who holds double MA in English and Geography, along with her lover Saleem were held guilty of hacking to death her seven family members on April 14, 2008.
