Sentencing Confirmed for Amsterdam Girl's Kidnappers; Insiya Still Missing Nine Years Later
The Supreme Court has confirmed the convictions of five men involved in the kidnapping of Amsterdam girl Insiya, bringing the long-running legal case to an end. The ruling follows the Advocate General’s recommendation from July.
Background of the Case
On 29 September 2016, several men forcibly took the then two-year-old Insiya from her grandmother’s home in Amsterdam. The child’s father, Shehzad Hemani, was identified as the orchestrator, having hired an international team to carry out the abduction. He then took his daughter to India, where she is still believed to be.
Legal Outcomes
Earlier courts sentenced six participants in the kidnapping to prison terms of up to four years. One of them, Hemani’s cousin Imran S., resides in India. Hemani himself received an 8.5-year prison sentence on appeal in May 2024.
Mother’s Struggle and International Standoff
Insiya’s mother, Nadia Rashid, has not seen or spoken to her daughter for nine years. Despite repeated requests from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM), Indian authorities have refused to extradite Hemani or his cousin.
“The kidnapping was a thoroughly planned operation,” said the Public Prosecution Service.
Appeal Rejected by Supreme Court
Hemani argued before the Supreme Court that his trial was unfair because he was not allowed to attend the proceedings via video link. The Court of Appeal had denied his request, citing the arrest warrant against him. The Supreme Court ruled that the appeals court acted within its rights, upholding the previous decisions and rejecting Hemani’s petition.
Author’s Summary
The Supreme Court’s final ruling ends a nine-year legal battle over Insiya’s kidnapping, yet the child remains in India, separated from her mother, as diplomatic tensions persist.