New hope over abducted six-year-old Elsa as EU steps in

The European Parliament’s child mediator, Roberta Angelilli, promised to take on the case of Elsa Salama after it was highlighted by Yorkshire MEP Edward McMillan-Scott.

Elsa, six, has been missing since she was abducted during a holiday to visit to her father’s family in Sharm el-Sheikh in December 2011, Her mother was forced to return to the UK without her and despite repeated trips to Egypt she has had no contact with her daughter, who is believed to be with Salama’s family.

Mother Naomi Button, from Bramley, has been fighting for her return to the UK ever since and hopes Ms Angelilli’s involvement will open up new avenues for her campaign.

Elsa’s father Tamer Salama has refused to tell the authorities where his daughter is and is serving a prison sentence for failing to comply with court orders instructing him to return her.

His two-year sentence was last month extended by a further two years after a hearing at the High Court during which Mr Justice Cobb said: “I regard the continued state of affairs as one which is wholly outside Elsa’s best interests and I believe the father needs now to wake up and recognise that.”

Ms Angelilli will raise the case with the Egyptian ambassador to the European Union and ask the European Commission to become involved.

She can also arrange for discussions with Mr Salama’s representatives to see if a way forward can be found.

Ms Button, 39, said: “I have been overwhelmed by the media and public response to my appeal to find Elsa which has led to this tremendous support from senior politicians.

“The fact that the European Parliament’s child mediator has taken my case on is reassuring.

“I hope that such senior intervention will help in the search to bring my little girl home.”

The post of European Parliament child mediator for child abduction was introduced in the 1980s in response to the growing number of cross border child disputes following the break up of marriages.

Leeds West MP Rachel Reeves has also been pressing the Foreign Office to do more to help in securing Elsa’s return.

Mr McMillan-Scott said: “I’m a regular visitor to Egypt and have good contacts there, as well as with the EU officials dealing with Egypt. In cases of cross-border parental child abduction, coordination between the involved states as well as mediation is vital.

“I hope that by raising Elsa’s case at an EU level we can help act as the intermediary between the UK and Egyptian parties involved.

“The Mediator of the European Parliament – a mother herself – can offer a human solution to
human cases and render support to getting Elsa home with her mother where she belongs.”

The interest of Ms Angelilli in the case was welcomed by the specialist lawyers advising Ms Button on her attempts to bring Elsa home.

Kate Banerjee, partner at law firm Jones Myers, said: “The intervention of such influential politicians should help galvanise the campaign to bring Elsa home to her mother Naomi.

“Roberta Angelilli’s expertise and guidance in her role as the European Parliament’s child mediator is a particularly welcome development. We hope that the politicians’ efforts will facilitate the steps that are needed both here and in Egypt to ensure that everything that can be done, is being done, to find Elsa.”

Earlier this month, Ms Button launched a social media campaign to raise awareness. The dedicated Bring Elsa Home Facebook page has received more than 4,300 “likes” and several hundred people are following the Twitter account @BringElsaHome.

Anyone with information about Elsa, who has dark, wavy hair, brown eyes, and usually wears glasses, should dial 101 in the UK and ask to speak to Leeds District Safeguarding Unit.