By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-12 18:26:12 | Updated at 2024-12-12 20:34:54
2 hours ago
Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster has demanded a full inquiry into the death of Sara Sharif, describing the case as "absolutely tragic, appalling, heartbreaking, and vile".
The Woking MP told GB News that while Sara cannot be brought back, steps "must be taken" to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
Sara Sharif's father and stepmother, Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool, have been found guilty of her murder following a trial, alongside Sharif's brother Faisal Malik, who was found guilty of causing or allowing the death of a child.
Sara, 10, died on August 8, 2023 in Woking, and her body was found two days later having suffered dozens of injuries.
Woking MP Will Forster has called for a 'full inquiry' into the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif
Surrey Police / GB News
"Sara has been failed by our system, and we need a full inquest," Forster told GB News.
He called for an immediate and comprehensive safeguarding review, insisting the matter cannot be "kicked into the long grass".
"We need that inquest and safeguarding review so that everything is released so that it's done in open, transparent manner," he stated.
Forster supported the Prime Minister's acknowledgement that "questions needed to be answered" in Sara's case.
"Whatever they recommend, whether it be on tightening up rules on child social services or homeschooling, we need to implement and will have my full support," he said.
Forster was clear in his assessment that the tragedy stemmed from systemic issues, rather than cultural ones.
"I don't think this is a cultural issue. I think this is a failure of this country's safeguarding rules," he stated.
The MP noted that the Children's Commissioner had expressed concern about the use of 'reasonable chastisement' as a defence in the case.
Forster told GB News that Sharif was 'failed by Britain's safeguarding system'
GB News
He stressed that the full scope of interactions between the family and authorities so far remained unclear.
"We don't yet know what was reported to the county council, what they took forward or what was reported to the police," Forster explained.
He concluded: "So that's why we need this inquest and safeguarding review as soon as possible, and that's my focus at the moment.
"It is absolutely tragic, appalling, heartbreaking, vile what's happened to Sara. We can't bring her back, but what we can ensure is that this doesn't happen again."
