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SUPER chef and businessman Dominic Miles is in training to once again support Rebecca Jones in her long-running battle to bring her son Adam home to Bahrain, writes Stan Szecowka.
Adam 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 guardians’ of his children. 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.
Mr Miles, a father-of-two, will be competing in an Olympic Triathlon, which consists of a 1.5km swim, 40km cycle session and a 10km run in Dubai in November, and will donate any money he raises to help Rebecca towards travel and legal expenses.
“Like many people in Bahrain I’m appalled that this situation is still ongoing after almost four years of torment,” he said. “I can’t imagine how appalling and heart-breaking it must be for Rebecca.”
Rebecca, 47, 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 later married Barrie, 47, an IT consultant. They live in Saar and have a daughter, Alex, eight, at St Christopher’s, the same school her brother used to attend. Rebecca has been granted limited visitation rights to her son and must attend twice weekly sessions in Qatar or risk losing them.
Adam has made heartfelt online appeals and written to British Prime Minister David Cameron asking to be allowed to return to his mum.
Despite Mr Cameron’s pledge to ‘keep trying’ to help him, little appears to have changed despite correspondence between governments. In a reply to Downing Street, Qatar’s then Prime Minister Shaikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, said: “I would like to inform you that in keeping with our humanitarian considerations, we will consider this case in order to find an amicable solution that preserves the rights of all parties concerned.”
Rebecca has renewed optimism with new emir of Qatar, Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, 33, taking office after his 61-year-old father, Shaikh Hamad, abdicated after 18 years in power. He signalled continuity in international affairs and change on the domestic front with the appointment of a new cabinet, led by Shaikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, holding the roles of prime minister and interior minister. He is a 1984 graduate of Durham Military College in England.
Meanwhile, Adam’s Qatari uncle, a senior police officer, remains unmoved by the gritty determination Adam’s mother has shown to ensure she remains a part of her son’s life.
Since Adam was taken away from her, Rebecca has made hundreds of flights to Qatar and now travels every Monday and Wednesday to see him under supervision. She has a part-time training consultant’s job which helps cover the cost of tickets. The family has also paid out thousands of dinars in legal fees. “I will not give up the fight for Adam until I bring him home,” Rebecca said. “He is so miserable in Qatar it is heartbreaking and I have to stay strong and determined for his sake.”
Supporters can find out more about Adam’s plight by visiting https://www.bringadamhome.org/ and Rebecca regularly updates a social media page at www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Adam-Home/154012248003070
A recent posting said: “Another visit with my beautiful son is over. I’m back at the airport waiting for my flight. I love and miss my son more than words can say. Goodnight, sweet darling angel.”
