I need advice for my friend...

[Cadpat]

I have posted here, because I need some perspective and a range of replies quickly. Didn't know where else to post, so sorry in advance.

I am asking for advice on behalf od a friend. She and her husband, and two sons are Canadian citizens. Her husband has taken the kids to Bahrain without her permission, and is not permitting contact. He claims that he there to start a new life, without her.

She is, understandably, distraught. Can anyone offer advice on how she can proceed? She has emailed Canadian authorities, but other than a standard response hasn't recieved any other help or support. She holds custody of the children at present, and has the court papers to prove it.

You can read her side of the story here, and in the interest of fairness, her husband's side here.

Please could anyone let me know how I can help, or in what way I can raise awareness of her story? At the moment, Canada is the grip of She has given me permission to share her story, as she has said she's willing to try anything as long as she gets her kids back :-(

Thank you in advance, and I appreciate your help.

I jumped the gun there a bit - I meant to say, Canada is in the grip of elections, so not many people see this as a priority.

If she has legal custody and the papers to prove it, surely there's nothing else TO be done than to have her solicitors take it through legal channels?

She does not have a solicitor here in Canada, as she cannot afford it. She does have alawyer in Bahrain, but at the moment, there seems to be nothing he can do. As far as I can see this is a case of abduction, but the father is insisting he did nothing wrong.

Stranded, she has temporary custody, granted by a court in Canada. Her husband also claims that he has custody, and he was in the right to take his kids back to Bahrain.

She's contacted the police and flagged up their passports, but its easy enough for the father to get the children new passports, and disappear.

Thanks SGM, I don't know if Bahrain is signed up or not, will check now. Yes, I keep telling her she needs a lawyer, but she's scared that the only asset she has in Canada (the house) will be taken away to pay for fees if she gets one. Also, she's currently unemployed, as she was dependent on her husband. Legal aid is good advice though, will go and look into that now too.

OK, just checked, Bahrain is not a party to the Hague convention... this is going to get messy now, isn't it :(

She needs a lawyer who is experienced in international custody disputes regardless of where that lawyer is based AND behind the scenes political intervention to sort this out. i believe there are support groups for people who have found themselves in this situation.

If Bahrain are not a party to the convention, then yes, it is going to be difficult. www.pact-online.org/html/parental_abduction.html

The link says her DH is Bahraini. Not a hope in hell for her.

Seem to remember that there a couple of charities in the uk that are there to help people in this situation, might be worth seeing if there are any in Canada...

They should have instant expert advice and people who have 'been there done that' to provide support. And maybe a good publicity machine.

Sorry for your friend, sounds horrendous situation to be in. Did the ex have any reason to choose Dubai or was it just a random (father friendly?) country?

Zipzap, her husband is Bahraini, his family is all there. The kids are Canadian. Thanks for the advice on charities, will have a look for them now. Yes, its a horrendous situation, and also a bit too close to home... I am trying to get her story out there, so at least there's some awareness about her situation.

SGM, she is in Ontario.

Microserf, thanks for that link, I have forwarded it to her.

SGM, she was not in jail. She says that her husband made that up so he could gain custody of the kids while she was stranded in Bahrain. She's originally Indian, now Canadian, with a Canadian passport (landed immigrant)

I will check out the legal aid situation right now.

What a horrible situation. :( Hope you friend gets the help she needs and her kids back soon.

How awful.

Yet another one of these stories, I have read so many similar stories over the years.

CB, OR, yes its horribly sad :( I am trying my best to help out in any way I can, but I live across the country, so its not the easiest. But I figure, if I can write and get her story out there, it can only help.

She is not in a good place right now :(