‘Tricked’ mother in custody fight takes hope from Cameron letter

Rebecca Jones, who is originally from Sheffield, has received replies from the Prime Minister to letters sent by both her and her 13-year-old son Adam urging him to intervene.

Mrs Jones, who lives in Bahrain, says she was tricked into losing custody of her son by the family of her late husband in Qatar.

Two years ago she lost an appeal to win him back and now she says she is hoping that the British Government can persuade authorities in Qatar to overrule the courts.

Mrs Jones was amicably divorced from her son Adam’s father, Jamal Al Madhaiki, who died in a motorcycle accident in 2005.

Four years later she visited Qatar to see the Al Madhaiki family. During this trip she says she signed documents which she believed had related to her son’s inheritance but in fact led to her losing her son.

Now she can only see her son twice a week in supervised visits at a family consulting centre in Qatar and has no contact at all with him outside these times.

Adam has sent two letters to the Prime Minister which Mrs Jones forwarded to Downing Street appealing for help. In his most recent, he said: “I wrote to you asking for your help. I was so happy when you wrote back and told me you would do your best to help me get home. Did you forget about me? I want to go home now and I’m very sad and lonely.”

In his latest reply Mr Cameron said: “I was very sorry to read that you are still separated from your mum. This must be very hard for you but I want you to know that I have not forgotten about you, and that you are still in my thoughts. I will keep trying as hard as I can to help you and I hope your family situation will change for the better very soon.”

There is a hand-written note at the bottom adding: “I promise I have not forgotten about you and will keep trying to make some progress in your case.” He also wrote to Mrs Jones telling her that he had written to the Emir and Prime Minister of Qatar “outlining my support that Adam’s voice is heard by the appropriate authority”. Mrs Jones said she was encouraged by these replies but called on the Government to “up the ante” to help get her son back.

She said: “The justice system has failed us. Adam stood up in court and said he wanted to live with me and custody was awarded to family who had not seen him for 10 years.

“I fly from Bahrain to Qatar every Monday and Wednesday and see Adam for four hours. I fly back to Bahrain after my visit. We see each other at the family consulting centre in Qatar although we are kept in a small room with no facilities and are under constant supervision.

“I am not allowed outside with Adam. Outside the visits I cannot speak to Adam. I am not allowed to know anything about his life, school and cannot even help him with homework.

“One day this has to come to an end. I just hope that it is soon. I have seen Adam go from being outgoing and bubbly to being quiet and reserved. His education has suffered. He used to go to one of the best private schools in the middle east and received learning support because he has dyspraxia...[a chronic neurological disorder that can affect planning of movements and co-ordination]”.

“Because the Al Madhaiki family do not accept that he has dyspraxia he is getting no support and he is struggling.”

Mrs Jones remarried and has a seven-year-old daughter, Alex, who has only seen her brother twice she he was taken to Qatar.

Mrs Jones said: “It is very difficult for both of them. Alex misses her brother and she is scared herself that one day someone will come and take her away too.”