Hyderabad Woman’s Appeal Dismissed by Dubai Court in Drugs Case
Family to Approach Abu Dhabi Supreme Court
Hyderabad | November 29, 2025 | DeccanLive.com
A Dubai court has rejected the first appeal filed by the legal team of Amina Begum, a 25-year-old woman from Hyderabad who is serving a 25-year jail term in a drug case. Her family now plans to approach the Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi for further legal relief.
The update was shared on X by Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of the Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT). He said the defence argued that Amina, who is suffering from tuberculosis, had no knowledge of the banned items found in the bag she was carrying.
Khan said Amina had travelled abroad for the first time only to support her family after being left alone to raise her five-year-old son. He added that a mercy petition will also be filed soon, and he plans to write to External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar seeking intervention with UAE authorities.
According to Khan, Amina’s mother broke down after hearing that the appeal had been dismissed, expressing serious concerns about her daughter’s health in custody.
How Amina Was Arrested
Amina Begum, a resident of Kishan Bagh, travelled from Hyderabad to Dubai on 18 May 2025 after receiving a job offer from a beauty parlour. Her family says an agent gave her a bag in Bangkok and asked her to deliver it after landing in Dubai. She later told her mother she did not know what was inside the bag.
She was detained at the Dubai International Airport and later sentenced for carrying prohibited substances.
Her father, Mohammed Ayub, is bedridden due to paralysis, while her mother, Sultana Begum, works as a domestic help. The family says they have been struggling badly since Amina’s arrest. The case has also been taken up with the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.
Community Fundraising Efforts
Because the family could not afford legal expenses, Amjed Ullah Khan led a public fundraising campaign for Amina’s legal defence. The family needed 25,000 dirhams (around ₹6 lakh) to hire a lawyer for the appeal.
Through community support, a total of ₹8.78 lakh was collected:
- ₹5.78 lakh was deposited directly into the bank accounts of Amina’s parents.
- 12,500 dirhams was handed to the legal consultant in Dubai managing the case.
- The remaining funds will be used for upcoming legal steps and, if required, for Amina’s mother’s travel arrangements.
Amina’s family now hopes the Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi will consider their plea and provide relief.
