Sara Sharif's family court judges worried over naming

Judges who oversaw proceedings related to the care of Sara Sharif before she was murdered have "serious concerns" about the risks of being named, the Court of Appeal has been told.

Mr Justice Williams ruled in December that the media could not name three judges involved in the historical family court cases related to the 10-year-old, as well as social workers and guardians, due to a "real risk" of harm from a "virtual lynch mob".

However, several media organisations, including the BBC, are appealing against the decision, telling a hearing that the judges should be named in the interests of transparency.

Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 43, and stepmother Beinash Batool, 30, were jailed for life for her murder in Woking in 2023.

Following the convictions at the Old Bailey, details from previous family court proceedings could be published relating to Sara's care before her death.

This included that Surrey County Council (SCC) repeatedly raised "significant concerns" that the girl was likely to suffer physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her biological parents.

In written submissions on Wednesday, the three unnamed judges told the Court of Appeal that their concerns over being identified also related to the personal wellbeing of their family members.

Mathew Purchase KC, on their behalf, said: "Each of them has serious concerns about the risks which would arise if they were now identified."

Sara's father Urfan Sharif opposes the appeal, which is being heard by three senior judges in London, while the guardian of other children involved in the case, remains neutral.

Cyrus Larizadeh KC, for Sharif, said he was "concerned that no harm should come to the judge(s) who presided in the historic proceedings".

Documents released to the media showed that SCC first had contact with Sharif and Sara's mother, Olga Sharif, in 2010 – more than two years before Sara was born – having received "referrals indicative of neglect" relating to her two older siblings.

The authority began care proceedings concerning the siblings in January 2013, involving Sara within a week of her birth.

Between 2013 and 2015, several allegations of abuse were made that were never tested in court, with one hearing in 2014 told that the council had "significant concerns" about the children returning to Sharif, "given the history of allegations of physical abuse of the children and domestic abuse with Mr Sharif as the perpetrator".

In 2019, a judge approved Sara moving to live with her father in Woking. It was there that she was hooded, burned and beaten during years of abuse before her death.

SCC said the appeal should be allowed.

The hearing before Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Warby is expected to conclude on Wednesday.

A judgment is expected in writing at a later date.

Sharif was sentenced to a minimum of 40 years in prison for murder, while Batool received a minimum of 33 years.

Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment for causing or allowing her death.

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