People on Twitter erupted on Thursday demanding Germany give back 1.5 years old girl Ariha to her parents after Rani Mukerji starrer Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway trailer was released. For the unversed, Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway is a true story revolving around Bengali couple who lived in Norway, however, the world went upside down when Norway's child protective services snatched their 2 children away from them calling them unfit for parenting. Although Mrs. Chatterjee Vs Norway is based on real-life couple named Sagarika and Anurup Bhattacharya Bengali, it has indeed forced the people of India to rise from the ashes and demand justice for another Indian parent whose daughter Ariha was snatched away by the German child protective services. As a result #BoyCottGermany has been trending on Twitter and netizens are slamming the German authorities for injustice. Now, the question arises what is Ariha's case and why Germany has blatantly refused to return her to her original Indian parents? To know the answer continue reading-
What is Ariha's case?
Ahmedabad-based parents Bhavesh and Dhara Shah’s daughter who is 1.5 years old named Ariha were taken by Germany's child protective services. The German authorities had taken Ariha under their care, alleging the parents sexually harassed their child. Her father had been working as a software engineer in the European nation on a work visa. Bhavesh and Dhara was quoted saying that Ariha's grandmother hurt her by accident in September 2021. When they took the baby to a hospital, the couple said the German authorities accused them of sex assault against the child and took her away from their care. The couple said the criminal investigation was closed without charges in February 2022, but they still haven't got their daughter back. In more trouble for the parents, the Berlin Child Services filed a civil custody case for the parental rights to be terminated. Ever since then, Ariha has been living in a foster home. The parents are fighting the case in Germany, but fear that the Child Services are dragging it to take advantage of the "continuity principle" of child law, under which if a child has spent a significant time with the state-appointed carer, it is said to be settled there and should not be shifted back to the parents, even if they are found to be fit.
Notably, in December 2022, India's Extrenal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had spoke on Ariha's case. "There's a case related to a child called Ariha Shah. We`ve concerns that she should be in her linguistic, religious, cultural, and social environment. This is her right," Jaishankar said during the press conference last year. Calling it a matter of concern, Jaishankar said that the Indian Embassy is pursuing it with the German authorities. Furthermore, the External Affairs Minister further added that he brought up the situation of the child with the German Foreign Minister who is on her two-day visit to India (then).
What do Netizens have to say in Ariha's case?
A user wrote, "Jain girl held by Germans..They are feeding non-veg to her..After 17 months, the couple is still struggling to get the daughter back...#BoycottGermany doesn't work..Talk to the gov that's the only solution."
Jain girl held by Germans
— Parth Soni (@ParthSoni2002) February 23, 2023
They are feeding non-veg to her
After 17 months, the couple is still struggling to get the daughter back.#BoycottGermany doesn't work
Talk to the gov that's the only solution#saveariha@peepoye_ pic.twitter.com/JQMDG2ARVY
Another user wrote, "We have to bring Ariha to India no matter what we have to do"
We have to bring Ariha to India no matter what we have to do .@GermanyinIndia @eoiberlin #boycottgermany pic.twitter.com/IgKiTa0hqj
— Shubham Jain (@Shubham16075205) February 23, 2023
"#BoycottGermany because first they will snatch away your child, and then after 2 years if they are unable to prove anything, they will argue that since kid has learnt german it will become difficult for her to adopt new culture so we will not return kid. Shame!"
#BoycottGermany because first they will snatch away your child, and then after 2 years if they are unable to prove anything, they will argue that since kid has learnt german it will become difficult for her to adopt new culture so we will not return kid. Shame ! pic.twitter.com/MvYpDPs7mi
— Jain Media (@JainMedia) February 23, 2023