Canada's Adoption Policies Prevent Muslim Families from Bringing Their Children Home

OTTAWA (IQNA) – A Canadian family is suing the federal government over its policy that prevents them from bringing their adopted children home from Muslim-majority countries. The policy is based on a difference in how Canada and those countries define adoption.

Maha Al-Zu'bi and Tahseen Kharaisat adopted a boy named Furat from Jordan in 2019 under a law called kafala, which is a form of guardianship that does not sever the ties between the child and the biological parents. They have been stuck in Jordan for four years, unable to obtain Canadian citizenship or permanent residency for Furat.

Also, Nadia and Ahmed adopted a girl named Aya from Morocco in 2020 under the same law. They have been living in Morocco for two years, facing the same barriers as the other family.

Both families say they were not aware of Canada's policy when they adopted their children. They say the policy is discriminatory, outdated, and violates their rights and the rights of their children.

Canada does not recognize kafala as a legal adoption, because it does not meet the requirements of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, which Canada is a signatory to. The convention aims to protect children from trafficking and exploitation.

The families have filed lawsuits against the Canadian government, seeking a judicial review of their cases. They are also asking the government to change its policy and allow kafala adoptions from Muslim-majority countries.

The government says it is committed to protecting the best interests of the children and preventing child trafficking and exploitation. It says it is reviewing its policy and exploring options to address the issue.

Read the full report on CBC.

Source: CBC