An Afghan-Canadian man has reportedly abducted his two children and fled to Afghanistan, leaving his ex-wife in a legal battle.
The man allegedly abducted seven-year-old Mateen and four-year-old Hosna, after receiving approval from his ex-wife Zaiba Zaiba, who had full custody of the two children.
Zaiba Zaiba received an unexpected call from a number in the Middle East and realized her children were not taken to a trip to Europe, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, CBC News reported.
“When I saw the number I was shocked because I don’t get (many) calls from Afghanistan. When I said ‘hello’ and recognized his voice I was in tears and I knew that he took them.” Zaiba quoted by CBC News said.
She has reportedly spent pleading with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the RCMP, Toronto police and even her local member of Parliament for help in bringing her Canadian-born children back home.
“I don’t understand why the government cannot bring my children back,” she told CBC News in an exclusive interview.
The Foreign Affairs Department of Canada said it’s been made aware of Zaiba’s case and is continuing to provide “consular assistance.”
In the meantime, Andrew Feldstein, the family lawyer of Zaiba said, she will face an uphill battle because Afghanistan is a country that has not signed on to the Hague Convention — an international agreement that, in part, protects children from abduction.
Andrew Feldstein told CBC News, “Which means you would need a court in Afghanistan to agree that the children ought to be returned to Canada. You’re subject to their laws because that’s where, regrettably, the children are right now.”
Mr. Feldstein also added that it would be a tough battle, as a judge in Afghanistan would interpret Sharia law, which has very different limits to custody rights when compared to Canadian law.


