Uphill task for Canadian parents from Islamic countries to adopt children

While Canada considers adoption a complete transfer of parental rights, in many Islamic countries the adoptive parents become the child’s guardians

OTTAWA, Canada – Childless Canadians with origins from Islamic countries are facing difficulty in adopting children from their countries of origin.

For the past four years, former Calgary resident Maha al-Zubi and her husband Tahseen Kharaisat have been running from pillar to post to have their adopted son Furat come to Canada from Jordan.

While Canada considers adoption a complete transfer of parental rights, in many Islamic countries the adoptive parents become the child’s guardians or godparents, but not the child’s legal parents.

Zubi and Kharaisat, both Canadian citizens, had sought adoption after unsuccessful fertility treatments.

They adopted three-month-old Furat from Jordan, unaware of the potential complications with Canadian law.

They were shocked when Furat’s visitor visa to Canada was denied shortly after his adoption.

Although the current federal government promised a review of this policy five years ago, no new information has been provided.

Adoptions from Islamic countries were accepted until 2013, when Canada banned adoptions from Pakistan due to differences in adoption approaches.

A media investigation has also brought to light a memo to the former foreign minister suggesting a link between national security and the adoption ban.

Another Canadian citizen, Farhan Abdi Omer, was also denied permission to join his two adopted sons.

Omer, a former police officer, had found two boys, Ayanle and Khader, in Mogadishu and eventually adopted them 15 years ago in a court case. However, the two boys have yet to join him in Canada.

Michael Greene, Zubi’s lawyer, called the rejection of their application extremely unfair.

Both parents hope to bring their sons to Canada, where they can live in an open-minded environment that guarantees religious freedom.