Mother’s custody appeal rejected after 10 years

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Ten years after losing custody of her children over abuse claims, a mother has failed in her bid to bring them back.

Her case was rejected by both the Lower Sharia Court and, on appeal, the Higher Sharia Court, which found the children to be settled in their father’s care and better off remaining there.

The woman had been stripped of custody in 2014 following reports of abuse.

At the time, the children were asked in court where they wished to live and chose their father.

Care

Now, with both children past the age where the law allows them to decide, the mother returned to court in an effort to have them moved back into her care.

The case was first reviewed by the Family Reconciliation Office before being referred to the court.

Both parents were represented by lawyers.

In court, the daughter said she wanted to remain with her father, while the son expressed a wish to live with his mother.

The children have been with her client continuously since the original ruling.

In its decision, the court said the children had remained in the father’s care since 2014, had settled with him, and were being properly looked after.

It found no sound reason to alter that arrangement. The court ruled that the mother’s case had no basis in law or fact.

Wish

While the son had expressed a wish to return to her, the daughter had not.

The court added that the boy’s wellbeing took precedence, and on that basis, he too should stay with his father.

The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling.