Sara Sharif’s father, Urfan Sharif, who was convicted last month of the murder of his 10-year-old daughter, was assaulted at Belmarsh Prison on Thursday.
Prison officials reported that Urfan sustained “cuts to his face and body” that required stitches and received medical treatment within the facility. A spokesperson for the Prison Service confirmed the assault, stating, “Police are investigating an incident involving the assault of a prisoner at HMP Belmarsh on 1 January.” Further details were withheld due to the ongoing investigation.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson also confirmed the probe into “an allegation that a prisoner was assaulted at Belmarsh,” adding that Urfan’s injuries were not life-threatening.
Last month, Urfan and Sara’s stepmother, Beinash Batool, were sentenced to life imprisonment for subjecting the young girl to years of abuse and “horrific torture,” ultimately causing her death. Urfan was handed a minimum sentence of 40 years, while Batool received 33 years. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was convicted of causing or permitting her death and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
During the sentencing at the Old Bailey, Justice Cavanagh described Sara’s death as “the culmination of years of neglect, frequent assaults, and what can only be described as torture,” primarily inflicted by Urfan. The court heard that Sara endured “unbearable suffering, anxiety, and fear” from repeated beatings, burns, bites, and physical restraints at the family home in Woking, Surrey.
Justice Cavanagh condemned Urfan’s actions, stating, “You treated her in such a way because you considered it your right to impose harsh discipline on her. Sara was a brave, feisty, and spirited child. She was not submissive as you wanted her to be. She stood up to you.” The judge also emphasized that Sara’s “despicable treatment” occurred in full view of other family members.
