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BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has made a heartfelt promise to Bahrain schoolboy Adam Jones, who was snatched from his English mother by the Qatari relatives of his late father, that he will personally ‘keep trying’ to help him.
He has sent a letter to the 12-year-old after the schoolboy sent a handwritten note to 10 Downing Street highlighting his misery and asking to be reunited with his mum, Rebecca Jones, who lives in Saar.
Mr Cameron said: “I was very sorry to read that you are so unhappy. I can see how difficult things are for you. I know it must be hard to be separated from your mum and your family and friends.
“I want you to know that I am worried about you. I have spoken to the Prime Minister of Qatar about your situation and I will make sure that we continue to do what we can to help you and your family.”
In pen, he promises the former St Christopher’s School student that he will keep trying, underscoring the ‘will’ ... before signing off, Yours, David.
Adam, above right, has remained separated from his mother since October 2009 after she was hoodwinked during a trip to Qatar into signing legal documents written in Arabic she did not understand notifying her of a custody hearing, believing they concerned matters about his future inheritance as the sole surviving heir of his father.
It is a tradition in the Arabic world for the family of a deceased father to take responsibility as ‘moral guardian’ of his children when they reach a certain age. As Adam has both Qatari and British citizenship the courts in Qatar have refused to hand him back to his mother despite the circumstances surrounding his removal from her care and his feelings on the matter.
Rebecca, 45, was married briefly to Jamal Al Madhaiki and they divorced in 2000 when Adam was three months old. Jamal, who remarried, died in a motorcycle accident in Qatar in 2005 and Rebecca maintained cordial relations with her late husband’s family allowing them contact with Adam whenever they wished.
The British expat is now married to Barrie, 45, an IT consultant, and they have a daughter, Alex, six, who attends St Christopher’s School. Adam was a popular pupil at the school too. Rebecca still wears a parent tag around her neck with both their names on when she collects her daughter.
The family has had to move to a cheaper compound in Bahrain because of the cost of legal expenses in Qatar and Rebecca’s constant travelling to and from the kingdom to visit her son.
Rebecca has been granted limited visitation rights and must attend twice weekly sessions in a secure policed family centre in Qatar or risk losing them.
She said: “Mr Cameron’s response has given me a little bit of a lift. Finally, after two years of complete and utter despair, something active is going on.”
Friends, family and supporters of Rebecca have expressed their outrage at the continued apathy towards Rebecca’s lack of rights as a mother and continue their support on the Facebook social networking site that has amassed several thousand supporters.
Petitions demanding Adam’s return have been sent to influential members of the Qatari government and international heads of state, including a Page One GulfWeekly petition hand-delivered to 10 Downing Street.
During a recent whistle-stop visit to the UK, Adam’s case was highlighted on national television and Rebecca met with Foreign Office Minister Alastair Burt to discuss the situation.
“He acknowledged that I had been cheated and that it was not a custody issue but a case that needed to be considered as one of abduction,” said Rebecca. “Mr Burt was very supportive and offered to meet me at any time I was back in the UK.”
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) also responded to criticism from supporters about its lack of action and dismissive attitude. As a result, Cathy Bassa, a Child Abduction Section caseworker covering the Middle East & North Africa, said: “I can confirm we are well aware of this case and the British Embassy in Doha has been providing consular assistance to Adam’s mother from the outset. Our embassy in Doha and the FCO in London will continue to raise Adam’s case at the most senior levels with the Qatari government.”
She added that the Prime Minister has taken a ‘personal interest in Adam’s case on a humanitarian basis’.
It appears that the British Government is now urging its Qatari counterparts to issue Rebecca with a residence permit which may pave the way for a more sympathetic custody hearing in the future.
The family is being supported by top English lawyer John McArdle who is offering his services for free after reading about the case whilst on a trip to Bahrain visiting friends with his wife, Jill, who used to work for Gulf Air.
On her return to Bahrain, Rebecca last week met with British Ambassador Iain Lindsay in Manama to discuss the matter.
The increased interest in the case has given the mother a well-needed boost after two years of family turmoil, heartache, anxiety and financial hardship.
Since her son was taken away from her, Rebecca has made 216 flights to Qatar. She now travels every Monday and Wednesday. She has a part-time training consultant’s job which helps cover the cost of the air fares.
The family has also paid out BD15,000 in legal fees. So, how has she kept going?
“You never stop loving your children. I will not give up the fight for Adam until I bring him home,” Rebecca explained over coffee shortly before catching a flight to see Adam.
“I’m sure there are people in Qatar who hoped I would have just disappeared by now ... and you question yourself about everything you do. I knew I had to find the strength to carry on when Adam told me my visits were ‘the best time’ of his week.
“He is so miserable in Qatar it is heartbreaking and I have to stay strong and determined for his sake.
“Our lives have been ruined, our happy family torn apart but more importantly my son’s childhood has been taken away from him. There is one thing for sure though, no matter how long it takes, I will never give up on Adam and will continue our fight for his freedom until I draw my last breath.
“It has now been two years since Adam was abducted. The pain and suffering that Adam and my whole family have endured during this horrific time is indescribable.
“Our lives have changed beyond recognition. The case has put a tremendous strain on us both emotionally and financially. Our lives are empty without our beautiful little boy. It really is a daily struggle to get out of bed sometimes, but we have no choice.
“We cannot, and will not, give up our fight until we bring Adam home. Emotionally, we are broken and drained. The cruelty that we have endured has been something that I will never get over, but have to deal with. It just seems so unfair that my son is being deprived of a loving and stable home and parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters that adore and cherish him. For what?”
Adam is now living in his uncle’s home and often complains of being bullied by his cousins. There are photographs of his bruised arms on the Bring Adam Home campaign website. He is allowed little freedom for fear that he may run away.
Rebecca added: “Adam is growing up fast. He has now been held in Qatar against his will for more than 770 days. He now accepts the daily abuse as if it is something normal which makes me so very sad. It has been incredibly hard for me to watch him suffer and not be able to help him. Any mother would not be able to stand it. Women have few rights in Qatar but a foreign woman has none.
“Mr Cameron has promised Adam that he would continue to bring this up with the Qatar authorities at every opportunity. I pray that this will be the case and my lovely boy will be set free.”
And Adam is not the only child suffering. His sister lives in fear that ‘someone might take her away’ and cries every time Rebecca has to travel to Doha. She has only had the opportunity to see her brother twice since the ordeal began.
“I probably lost a year of my life – for a long time my only thoughts were of Adam and as a result my home life suffered. I felt so completely torn,” Rebecca admitted.
She said: “I had to knock myself back into shape for the sake of my daughter and husband as well as Adam. I believe I have now achieved some kind of balance as the fight continues.”
Alex gets her undivided attention every weekend. “I can even walk into St Christopher’s School with her now without bursting into tears every time. The daily school run was just a constant reminder of what we had and what we are now missing.
“The loss hurts so much; everything was a constant struggle. But I’m back and more determined than ever.”
